BBC world cup info - IRAN would be an easy group for England

[bozghaleh]

And I thought our fans were bad before the 2006 World Cup. These guys definitely take the cake

Yes, before in 2006 we were all thinking we would beat Mexico (lose to Portugal) and then advance with an EASY Angola win. Then Karimi got injured, our coach decided to play with 10 men (Daei was the invisible 11th), team had in-fighting and the rest is history.
No doubt we have a good team, better than 2014, but as someone said we are the king of Asia (one of the weaker confeds), AND never having really been tested against quality opponents. I am not ready like you all to kor kori (have had too many bitter memories) but am cautiously optimistic. In Querioz we trust!

[teammelli91]

Yes, before in 2006 we were all thinking we would beat Mexico (lose to Portugal) and then advance with an EASY Angola win. Then Karimi got injured, our coach decided to play with 10 men (Daei was the invisible 11th), team had in-fighting and the rest is history.
No doubt we have a good team, better than 2014, but as someone said we are the king of Asia (one of the weaker confeds), AND never having really been tested against quality opponents. I am not ready like you all to kor kori (have had too many bitter memories) but am cautiously optimistic. In Querioz we trust!

Oh believe me I know! I remember everything that surrounded the team that year. A team full of stars. I'm not for kor kori either. But when there's kor kori coming from the English tabloids writing off us like that, we have to retaliate somehow too. It's all for fun.

Despite the fact that we haven't played against much stronger opponents, we have to acknowledge our progression and minor accomplishments in the last 3 years. Playing a nice match against/defeating Chile in 2015, the match vs Russia, topping our qualification group, breaking numerous records (not losing in the last phase of WCQ'ers), sending 5-6 new players to Europe, and many others that I won't get into.

We are #1 in Asia and we should be proud. However we shall not be delusional either. Like you said, we need better friendlies and we need better camps. In Queiroz I trust as well.

[Ali.Karimi79]

I remember us iranians fans being arrogant the same way too in 2006 being happy about the draw with portugal, mexico and making fun of angola-mongola etc.

[Hadi]

lets be honest here. Iran is the team everyone wishes to have from Pot 3

[Afat11]

lets be honest here. Iran is the team everyone wishes to have from Pot 3

I agree that people have that sentiment, but it's because they shamefully don't know anything about football outside of World Cups and FIFA video games. The English know very little of soccer outside of their own EPL clubs and Barcelona/Real. They aren't fans of the world game, just follow a club. I see this so much on forums like reddit. Very little education of other countries because of their delusional self-confidence.

Part of me enjoys being the underdog, but part of me is just sick of our players not getting any credit. These attitudes actually hurt our team as we lose opportunities for friendlies and transfers for our players because of this misplaced belief that we are weak.

People really want to play us and our rigid defense over a team like Costa Rica? Really. Again, people only watch soccer outside of their own countries' league like EPL, Serie A, La Liga, etc. and their own national teams once every 4 years.

People still act like Costa Rica is some powerhouse that should be feared despite Brazil being nearly 4 years ago with different coach, players, etc.

Not targeting Costa Rica, just using an example. I'd say that with Iceland, we may be one of the most dangerous 3rd seeds because we play with rigid organization and a culture to our football. Let people want us in their group though. Can't wait to make them cry like CQ has made our Asian opponents cry.

CQ promised in 2011 that our tears from losing major matches will be replaced with the tears of our opponents. We will now prove it on the world's biggest stage. Turn their happiness to draw us into despair.

[saeed_noro]

they are stupid, they wrote two teams of Uefa can maximum be in one group, later they wrote tough group would be Germany England Egypt Serbia with three euro teams, lol

they just take information by others sides, they even did not know otherwise that three teams of Uefa could not be in the same group..lol

[mayhem]

He did say on paper. Nothing wrong with that. Iran is the lowest ranked team in Pot 3.

I really wish we draw with them. Iran has never played with England. I like Iran to make history just as Iceland did in Euros.

[Surenas]

Iran will be a tough opponent. I've read further, people are scared, we are playing too offensive Football. That's just how we play in Asia or in Friendlies, because CQ needs to test all tactics and in Asia we are hands down the strongest Team. I'm quite sure, CQ got his plans for the WC and if we have to play against Germany, Brazil, France or Spain, I'm also quite sure, we will park the bus again, like never before.
You can't play 90 mins. on a par with these teams. But you can get them via counter attacks and Iran is very solid, we have really good strikers, now with Saman we have tough midfield and a rock solid defence.
The only weak point of Iran are our GK, Beiro is not sure and Abedzadeh or Mazaheri never played on these stages, that's what concerns me. One good shot from 20m from Neymar, Özil, Griezmann etc. could be enough and if we are 1-0 behind, trust me this will be really hard for us, especially we Iranians lose faith in ourself pretty fast.
CQ have to show the guys how to handle situations like these, especially we Iranians are spoilt by success, because we almost never lose, our last defeat was the 3-1 against Sweden (that's almost three years ago!) - I don't count that 0-1 against Iraq.
So we need tough opponents, for psychological reasons who can make Kabab Kubideh out of us, to know how to handle this! If we gain that exp. we will rock this World Cup!

[Nokhodi]

Sports Illustrated and the Guardian's Jonathan Wilson ranks us 18th which is pretty high praise actually. He's usually very cynical and down on Asia so I'm surprised he likes our team that much.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/11/16...gs-russia-2018

By Jonathan Wilson November 16, 2017
With the field of the 32 nations who will compete at the World Cup in Russia next summer completed by Peru's success in Lima Wednesday night, there's little time to waste in ranking the sides headed to the showcase event by making an initial assessment of their form.

Sure, there is plenty left to be decided. Which nations have managerial issues to resolve? Who knows what their starting lineup is likely to be? Who is praying for their key center forward to stay fit? Everything, of course, could change with the answers to those questions and the fallout from the group draw on Dec. 1, but, with all else being equal, who are the likely winners and who's just glad to going to Russia? Here's how we see the World Cup field stacking up:



1. BRAZIL

Six games into qualifying, Brazil had won only twice and looked in serious danger of failing to qualify. Going out of the Copa America Centenario in the group stage confirmed the moribund state of the Brazilian game. But then Tite replaced Dunga as manager, and the whole set-up changed. This Brazil plays modern, aggressive football, is far less reliant on Neymar and won 10 and drew two of its final 12 games to qualify, a full 10 points clear at the top of the CONMEBOL table.

Best Finish: Champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)



2. SPAIN

Eliminated in the group stage in the last World Cup and then beaten by Italy in the last 16 of Euro 2016, the curtain seemed to have come down on the golden age of Spanish football. But after replacing Vicente Del Bosque, Julen Lopetegui has rejuvenated the side. Its 3-0 win over Italy in qualifying offered a clear warning that Spain is back.

Best Finish: Champions (2010)



3. GERMANY

Germany disappointed at Euro 2016, never really hitting top form and being well-beaten by France in the semifinal. Since then, though, it has qualified for the World Cup with a perfect 10-0-0 record and won the Confederations Cup with what was, in effect, a reserve side. Manager Jogi Low has used 36 players over the past two years, which for another manager might be a sign of chaos; for him it’s an indicator of strength.

Best Finish: Champions (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)



4. FRANCE

This is a ridiculously gifted generation of French players who really should have won the Euros on home soil last summer. The sense, though, is that Didier Deschamps is not necessarily the man to get the best out if them, and the 4-4-2 he has adopted of late seems a weirdly blockish solution that leads to predictability.

Best Finish: Champions (1998)



5. BELGIUM

Now that it has been relieved of the handicap of Marc Wilmots, can Belgium’s golden generation make good on its promise? Under Roberto Martinez, Belgium qualified with ease, dropping only two points. Kevin De Bruyne has thrived in a slightly deeper role, but the question, as ever with Martinez, is whether the side will be able to cope defensively against better opposition. De Bruyne has already questioned Martinez's tactics.

Best Finish: Fourth Place (1986)



6. ARGENTINA

Qualification was traumatic, but with the dust settled, Argentina remains in a strong position. For all the doubts about players coming through, this remains a strong squad, overloaded with gifted forwards and, by appointing Jorge Sampaoli, it did, at the third attempt, get the right manager. Lionel Messi’s (probable) final chance at a World Cup may be the one he takes.

Best Finish: Champions (1978, 1986)



7. PORTUGAL

Portugal is the European champion and breezed through qualification by winning nine games in a row after losing the opener in Switzerland. Cristiano Ronaldo gives the goal-scoring edge, but its real strength is in the solidity of the midfield.

Best Finish: Third Place (1966)



8. URUGUAY

The stereotype of Uruguay is of defensive resolve, stifling tactics and a pragmatism that can tip into cynicism. This side, though, had the second-best scoring record in South American World Cup qualifying and looks to take full advantage of the abilities of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

Best Finish: Champions (1930, 1950)



9. ENGLAND

A mood of persistent frustration hangs over England, so much so that the general reaction to its unbeaten qualification was a collective yawn about the way the Three Lions had trudged through a less-than-testing group. Harry Kane and a highly gifted emerging generation, though, offer some hope.

Best Finish: Champions (1966)



10. CROATIA

If football were just about players, Croatia would never have needed a playoff to qualify. It may lack a defensive midfielder but has a great wealth of creators. But with hardcore fans at war with the federation, which belatedly replaced their manager Ante Cacic, Croatia was underachieving desperately until Zlatko Dalic took over. He secured the win Croatia needed against Ukraine in the final qualifier, and the side then cruised through its playoff against Greece, winning 4-1.

Best Finish: Third Place (1998)



11. COLOMBIA

James Rodriguez was the breakout star of the last World Cup, and there is a sense that he has perhaps stagnated thanks to the glut of talent at Real Madrid. If he can rediscover his form at Bayern Munich, though, and with Radamel Falcao enjoying a late-career renaissance, Jose Pekerman’s side could be a threat.

Best Finish: Quarterfinals (2014)



12. SWITZERLAND

The Swiss qualified thanks to a very dodgy penalty in the playoff against Northern Ireland, and struggled to impose themselves in that series, but Vladimir Petkovic’s well-balanced side won all of its first nine qualifiers and has, in Ricardo Rodriguez and Stephan Lichtsteiner, a pair of excellent attacking fullbacks.

Best Finish: Quarterfinals (1934, 1938, 1954)



13. POLAND

Poland is ranked sixth in the world, which is evidence of just how much impact the trick of not playing friendlies can be. This, after all, is a side that in September lost 4-0 to Denmark. But it is generally solid and has, in Robert Lewandowski, one of the best strikers in the world.

Best Finish: Third Place (1974, 1982)



14. RUSSIA

Only one host nation has ever failed to make it through the group stage of a World Cup, but Russia could be the second. The gifted generation that reached the semifinal of Euro 2008 grew old together and Stanislav Cherchesov has struggled to rejuvenate a squad that is heavily reliant on Alan Dzagoev for creativity.

Best Finish: Fourth Place (1966)



15. MEXICO

Juan Carlos Osorio is a controversial figure, with many feeling he rotates too often and question his hard-pressing. His players, though, seem generally enthused, and Mexico finished top of CONCACAF qualifying as well as getting out of their group at the Confederations Cup. After eliminations at the round of 16 in the last six World Cups, Osorio's first target must be set on reaching the quarterfinals.

Best Finish: Quarterfinals (1970, 1986)



16. ICELAND

After eliminating England to reach the quarterfinal of the Euros last summer, Iceland kicked on to become, by some distance, the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup, finishing top of an awkward group that also included Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey. Gylfi Sigurdsson is the highest-profile player, but no side will have such a ferocious team spirit.

Best Finish: N/A



17. DENMARK

Denmark may have required a playoff to qualify, but that was because of results early in qualifying. More recently, the Danes put four past Poland and Montenegro and five past Ireland. Their Norwegian coach, Age Hareide, favors a direct approach and has made them defensively solid, but they also have the technical quality to unpick sides.

Best Finish: Quarterfinals (1998)



18. IRAN

Carlos Queiroz has been in charge of Iran for six years now. His side qualified unbeaten, letting in just two goals in 10 games in the final group, and can be relied upon to play in the characteristic Quieroz way, full of neat, technical, risk-averse football.

Best Finish: Group Stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014)



19. NIGERIA

Inconsistency and underachievement have characterized Nigerian football over the past decade. The Super Eagles have failed to qualify for three of the last four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments but won the one they did get to. Under Gernot Rohr, though, there is a sense of renewal, and they ended up topping a brutally tough qualifying group with relative comfort. A 4-2 friendly victory over a (Messi-less) Argentina this week was hugely impressive.

Best Finish: Round of 16 (1994, 1998, 2014)



20. SWEDEN

The Swedes dug deep and held firm to beat Italy over two legs and seem to have improved as a team since the retirement of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Memories of their dismal Euro 2016 lurk in the background, and there is a lack of obvious creativity, but this is a side that also beat France in qualifying.

Best Finish: Runner-up (1958)



21. MOROCCO

Herve Renard’s record as an international coach is remarkable. He’s the only man to win the Cup of Nations with two different sides (Zambia, Ivory Coast) and he’s now taken Morocco to its first World Cup since 1998, coming out on top of a group that included Ivory Coast–without conceding a goal.

Best Finish: Round of 16 (1986)



22. JAPAN

There is an awkward sense about Japanese football that it has plateaued. The Samurai Blue finished top of their qualifying group and have an experienced coach in Vahid Halilhodzic, but, having been knocked out of the 2015 Asian Cup in the quarterfinals, there’s no reason to believe they’ll improve on their habit of alternating between group stage and last 16 exits.

Best Finish: Round of 16 (2002, 2010)



23. SERBIA

No side that finished top of its group in European qualifying collected fewer points than Serbia. This is a talented group, particularly in midfield, but the specter of past disintegrations at tournaments haunts them, and the chances of another potential collapse were only increased when Slavoljub Muslin was removed as coach after qualifying essentially because his football had been insufficiently exciting.

Best Finish: Group Stage (2010)



24. EGYPT

This is Egypt’s first World Cup since 1990, but it won a hat trick of Cups of Nations between 2006 and 2010. Having failed to make the following three Cups of Nations, the Pharaohs returned to the tournament this year and showed all the familiar defensive qualities, augmented by the pace of Mohamed Salah on the break, to reach the final.

Best Finish: Group Stage (1934, 1990)



25. SENEGAL

Senegal qualified unbeaten at the top of an awkward group that included Burkina Faso, Cape Verde and South Africa. The Lions of Teranga have pace and attacking flair on the flanks with Sadio Mane and Keita Balde and solidity in midfield with Idrissa Gueye. They disappointed at the Cup of Nations, though, eliminated in the quarterfinal by Cameroon.

Best Finish: Quarterfinals (2002)



26. SOUTH KOREA

South Korea struggled to second in its qualifying group, behind Iran, losing three of its 10 games. The squad should be better than that, though, as it features the likes of Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Lee Chung-yong (Crystal Palace) and Ji Dong-won (Augsburg).

Best Finish: Fourth Place (2002)



27. PERU

Peru is ranked 10th in the world, which is another lesson about the benefit of not playing friendlies. Ricardo Gareca’s side is well-organized and has impressed in recent tournaments, reaching the semifinal of the Copa America in 2015 and losing on penalties in the quarterfinal of the Copa America Centenario a year later. If Paolo Guerrero’s doping ban is confirmed and extended through the summer, though, it will be desperately short of firepower.

Best Finish: Quarterfinals (1970)



28. COSTA RICA

Reaching the last eight four years ago looks like being the summit for a generation. Costa Rica has regressed since then, as a number of key players have aged. The Ticos finished second behind Mexico but managed just two wins away from home in the hexagonal.

Best Finish: Quarterfinals (2014)



29. TUNISIA

A 2-1 win over DR Congo in September effectively sealed Tunisia’s place in Russia, but it will go there with limited ambition after a hugely disappointing Cup of Nations in which it was eliminated by Burkina Faso in the quarterfinal. That led–eventually–to the departure of manager Henryk Kasperczak and his replacement, Nabil Maaloul.

Best Finish: Group Stage (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006)



30. AUSTRALIA

Ange Postecoglu’s side eventually qualified via a playoff, beating Honduras 3-1 over two legs, but the big concern must be that the Socceroos haven’t won any of their last nine games outside of Australia.

Best Finish: Round of 16 (2006)



31. SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia scraped to an automatic World Cup berth on goal difference ahead of Australia, but lost three of their five away games, beating only Thailand and Iraq on the road. The manager who guided the side through qualifying, Bert van Marwijk, failed to agree to a new contract and was replaced by former Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza.

Best Finish: Round of 16 (1994)



32. PANAMA

Hernan Dario Gomez’s side qualified in third place in CONCACAF, but averaged less than a goal a game and won only one game away from home in the hexagonal. It's a just reward for a veteran core, but there'll be a hill to climb in Russia.

Best Finish: N/A

[Nokhodi]

Bleacher Report has us at 26th. Only Japan from Asia is higher.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...p-is-finalised

[MR.S]

Iran listed as a dark horse
https://www.footballparadise.com/5-n...cup-in-russia/

[persian_pooya]

Iran listed as a dark horse
https://www.footballparadise.com/5-n...cup-in-russia/

They also listed Panama, Saudi Arabia, and Peru as the other dark horses..

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[shahabGAOL]

I was so much thinking we would made it with this 2006 team to the last 16 and I thought we are in a very easy group and win Angola

World Cup 2006:
https://youtu.be/s6Ck67YTzk4
https://youtu.be/U00f3G2ED6I
https://youtu.be/VBc5cJGgvI0

[ehsan singapore]

how is saudi dark horse?they are dark horse in letting in 4-5 goals in each game

[diz]

how is saudi dark horse?they are dark horse in letting in 4-5 goals in each game

Maybe they'll ride into the stadiums on dark horses? They are known for their thorough bred horses!