To all the pessimists...

[Surenas]

Easily if we make it out of this group, we can be World Champions

[euphory]

What would be the next scenario if we make it out of the group?

[Erfan11]

What would be the next scenario if we make it out of the group?

No need to think about that we should only focus to Morroco match now then Spain and then Portugal. Step by step.

[Spyder]

The world will never forget how we performed against Argentina.(even though we performed defensively and got robbed of a penalty) Now the world has a change to see how we perform against two of the best -Spain and Portugal.
We may never make it out of this group, but we will be remembered for how we play. All team Meli has to do is play fearlessly like 2014.
These will historical matches to watch.

I like your romance. But history always remembers the final result. No one apart from Iranians and the odd Argentine know about how well we played in that game.

TM has done extremely well to get to WC. Congrats to all the players, staff and fans. But be prepared for a fade out like no other, Portugal and Spain + Morocco. Its like comparing a bicycle against a rampaging Lamborghini. The only hope is if the Lamborghini runs out of fuel

We should hope for the best but this isnt a good situation at all and fans shouldnt expect little if at all from TM.

EDIT: Just to add the eyes of the world will be on this group so maybe the Iranian Cheetah will get really good press as well and of course our players will get exposure.

[shahname]

I completely agree with you. Of course I was also very disappointed yesterday when I saw Irans name being pulled out for group B but I see things completely different now.

You have to ask yourself this question: WHY ARE WE GOING TO WORLDCUP?? WHAT IS IT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH??

Are we going there just to advance from our group and most likely being eliminated in 1/8 finals??? Or are we going there to lock horns with the best nations in football and prove ourselves and try out our chances?

I mean if we had got in a group like Poland, Peru, Panama and managed to qualify for the next round, everybody would be saying yes, there is a really easy opponent (IRAN) for 1/8 finals. But if we somehow manage to qualify from this group, then we would already before 1/8 finals start, be the surprise of this WC2018 and get the respect of the entire footballing world. Besides, there would not have been any guaranties that we would have qualified from an "easy group". We lost to Bosnia 4 years ago and only drew Angola in 2006 when we all thought we would beat these "easy" teams.

Now we will be playing two high caliber matches against Spain and Portugal. We have to imagine that those matches already are like 1/8 or 1/4 finals for us and go all out and give our best. Just imagine what a priceless experience it is for our young players like Azmoun, Ezzatollahi, Jahanbakhsh, Ghoddos, Mohammadi, Taremi, Pouraliganji etc to get to play the stars of La Liga (Spain) and the current european champions (Portugal). Even the Morocco match will be exciting. It is a team consisting entirely of european based players.

I am sure even with this difficult group, we are still THE Asian nation to have the best chance to shine in this WC. Both Saudi Arabia and S. Korea will be halal-butchered in the groups they got into and even Japan will have a big task on their hands against Colombia, Senegal and Poland in a group that NOBODY CARES ABOUT.

[Damavand]

If manage to come out of this group, we can go all the way to the quarter finals.

[Keyvan60]

"Shahname" articulated what I wanted to say. very precise and right-to-the-point! well said my friend.

Go TM

[DireStraits]

I expect Iran to win Morocco. If we can't win Morocco we can't go to next round regardless which group we are in. If we win morocco all we need is a surprise win in one of the next to games. I think CQ would prepare the TM for the
game against Morocco and Spain. Remember Stars like Jahanbakhsh Saman and Azmoun would do their best to get a place in Spanish league. Although Marocco is a good side I evaluate Iran to be better. Each time they have scored the other side's defense has been shaky. We will finish at least 3th.

[KasraKhan]

Good post, Afat jan!

This is what the WC is about, guys! We'd die for friendlies against Spain and Portugal with their A squads. Well, here's our chance.

Playing Spain and Portugal is better than being in a weaker group, as Afat said, and playing Russia or Peru. Countries nobody cares about.

Imagine, here are the salivating matchups we're going to see:

Azmoun vs. Sergio Ramos

Rezaian vs. Cristiano (vay khoda..)

Ezzatolloahi vs. Iniesta

Isco vs. Hajsafi

Taremi vs. Jordi Alba

Dejagah vs. Pepe

Masoud vs. Pique

Pouraliganji vs. Morata

David Silva vs. Milad Mohammadi (juicy)

I can't wait! We are going to the WC to play the best in the world, and we're getting exactly what we want. Be happy guys! TM is going to do great! All hail King CQ.

[Ali Doust]

Good post, Afat jan!

This is what the WC is about, guys! We'd die for friendlies against Spain and Portugal with their A squads. Well, here's our chance.

Playing Spain and Portugal is better than being in a weaker group, as Afat said, and playing Russia or Peru. Countries nobody cares about.

Imagine, here are the salivating matchups we're going to see:

Azmoun vs. Sergio Ramos

Rezaian vs. Cristiano (vay khoda..)

Ezzatolloahi vs. Iniesta

Isco vs. Hajsafi

Taremi vs. Jordi Alba

Dejagah vs. Pepe

Masoud vs. Pique

Pouraliganji vs. Morata

David Silva vs. Milad Mohammadi (juicy)

I can't wait! We are going to the WC to play the best in the world, and we're getting exactly what we want. Be happy guys! TM is going to do great! All hail King CQ.

I prefer to have Ghafouri vs Ronaldo.

[persiangodfather]

I completely agree with you. Of course I was also very disappointed yesterday when I saw Irans name being pulled out for group B but I see things completely different now.

You have to ask yourself this question: WHY ARE WE GOING TO WORLDCUP?? WHAT IS IT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH??

Are we going there just to advance from our group and most likely being eliminated in 1/8 finals??? Or are we going there to lock horns with the best nations in football and prove ourselves and try out our chances?

I mean if we had got in a group like Poland, Peru, Panama and managed to qualify for the next round, everybody would be saying yes, there is a really easy opponent (IRAN) for 1/8 finals. But if we somehow manage to qualify from this group, then we would already before 1/8 finals start, be the surprise of this WC2018 and get the respect of the entire footballing world. Besides, there would not have been any guaranties that we would have qualified from an "easy group". We lost to Bosnia 4 years ago and only drew Angola in 2006 when we all thought we would beat these "easy" teams.

Now we will be playing two high caliber matches against Spain and Portugal. We have to imagine that those matches already are like 1/8 or 1/4 finals for us and go all out and give our best. Just imagine what a priceless experience it is for our young players like Azmoun, Ezzatollahi, Jahanbakhsh, Ghoddos, Mohammadi, Taremi, Pouraliganji etc to get to play the stars of La Liga (Spain) and the current european champions (Portugal). Even the Morocco match will be exciting. It is a team consisting entirely of european based players.

I am sure even with this difficult group, we are still THE Asian nation to have the best chance to shine in this WC. Both Saudi Arabia and S. Korea will be halal-butchered in the groups they got into and even Japan will have a big task on their hands against Colombia, Senegal and Poland in a group that NOBODY CARES ABOUT.

Thanks for the info but id trade spots with Japan any minute wouldn't you

[shahname]

Thanks for the info but id trade spots with Japan any minute wouldn't you

As I said, you have to make up with yourself what it is you want out of this world cup? If the only thing that matters to you is qualifying for the next round, then statistically the chances would be higher in japans group. But could you be sure few would have qualified from that group? And then what? Then we would have met the likes of Spain or Portugal or even Morocco in the 1/8 finals. Now we have the pleasure and the excitement of meeting them already in group stage.

Let me ask you something else then. How much more prestige would be in qualifying from our current group rather than Japans group??

[PSGman#19]

As I said, you have to make up with yourself what it is you want out of this world cup? If the only thing that matters to you is qualifying for the next round, then statistically the chances would be higher in japans group. But could you be sure few would have qualified from that group? And then what? Then we would have met the likes of Spain or Portugal or even Morocco in the 1/8 finals. Now we have the pleasure and the excitement of meeting them already in group stage.
Let me ask you something else then. How much more prestige would be in qualifying from our current group rather than Japans group??

I agree on your original post. However being in Japan's group would be easier for our players to shine & get noticed.

Against Spain and Portugal, if both are at 100%, we are going to suffer.

[persiangodfather]

As I said, you have to make up with yourself what it is you want out of this world cup? If the only thing that matters to you is qualifying for the next round, then statistically the chances would be higher in japans group. But could you be sure few would have qualified from that group? And then what? Then we would have met the likes of Spain or Portugal or even Morocco in the 1/8 finals. Now we have the pleasure and the excitement of meeting them already in group stage.

Let me ask you something else then. How much more prestige would be in qualifying from our current group rather than Japans group??

I feel like this was the best chance for us to come out of the group in our history and that's what I wanted the most from this group was just to come out of the group

[Spyder]

I agree on your original post. However being in Japan's group would be easier for our players to shine & get noticed.

Against Spain and Portugal, if both are at 100%, we are going to suffer.

One is the former WC champion, the other is the former Euro champion. I mean come on already!! haha

If we dont lose 8-0 I will be very happy. Even scoring against these teams would be an achievement in itself.