Carlos Queiroz warns that Iran is far from the required level

[YeCheesi Tala]

This is definitely a stamina issue. You can see aghaei out of breath in one of the throws near 6min mark.
-I think this has partially to do with CQ requirement of the players dynamic coverage. In the first 10min you could see from SA to Taremi all the way down to CD everyone is moving as one unit. Especially in the first minute you could see three of our forwards running backwards to defend in synchronized fashion (which was amazing to watch).
-CQ game-plan requires high fitness, highly disciplined, and 90min focused players. Can he make Khanzadeh, Aghaei, Ebrahimi, Amiri into such players? I doubt in 40 days.

[Sly]

Its not upto CQ to always come in and set up friendlies, its upto IFF, and we are still all scratching our heads trying to understand is it incompetence or actual politics? are federations shunning us or is it because IFF does not ( still) understand how to arrange friendlies?... Your views?..either way, if we cant play the likes of Italy, France or Argentina before a World Cup, we are doomed in preparation !!

Actually since the friendlies are not on Fifa days, they are only for the domestic players to get prepared. and I think CQ was the one, wanting these friendlies. I think Taj and Saket said they prepared all of the friendlies which CQ himself requested.

Of course the political situation in Iran doesn't allow many countries to easily play against us. So I'm assuming CQ was also forced to choose between the ones who were easily doable. But I think this time around, IFF did actually what they were supposed to. They actually surpassed themselves compared to all other times.

[Sly]

This is definitely a stamina issue. You can see aghaei out of breath in one of the throws near 6min mark.
-I think this has partially to do with CQ requirement of the players dynamic coverage. In the first 10min you could see from SA to Taremi all the way down to CD everyone is moving as one unit. Especially in the first minute you could see three of our forwards running backwards to defend in synchronized fashion (which was amazing to watch).
-CQ game-plan requires high fitness, highly disciplined, and 90min focused players. Can he make Khanzadeh, Aghaei, Ebrahimi, Amiri into such players? I doubt in 40 days.

Completely agreed! But then again....CQ has been in Iran for around 7 years. He already knew about all this. Why didn't he do anything to fix the problem earlier? A coach as professional as him, should have known training one day per week was not gonna cut it for these players.

[Roozbeh-G2006]

Completely agreed! But then again....CQ has been in Iran for around 7 years. He already knew about all this. Why didn't he do anything to fix the problem earlier? A coach as professional as him, should have known training one day per week was not gonna cut it for these players.

This is a valid point but I think he might be concerned that people might be expecting a great deal more than what TM and our players are capable of achieving at the world cup tournament in this very difficult group. A kind of reality check if you like. I think he wants to get good results and to get that against those three teams he realises he needs to go that much further otherwise a draw and a couple of low score losses might be the best this TM can do.

[Ab-Gosht]

I like CQ and what he's done for Iran's football is nothing less than a miracle. but that doesn't mean he's perfect and never makes mistakes.

He's had the PGL players for so long, giving them special training a day per week to make them fitter. He even promised the PGL coaches that the players he wanted to train would get better in quality and that the clubs could benefit from them even more.

So What happened?

CQ already knew a long time ago that PGL is not at the same standard as the European leagues. He knew since 2014 the players needed to be physically fitter. He even trained them to run more ahead of the last WC! and it was successful. The players could actually run for 90 minutes without getting tired. So again...what happened? This time he's even getting the friendlies he lacked and complained about the last time.

I don't expect TM to advance from it's group in the WC, simply because the opponents are too strong. Let's say I don't even expect us to win against Morocco. but if we do not play at least equally well as in the 2014 Argentina game, I would say CQ has failed us the WC miserably. No excuses will be acceptable at that time. Specially now that the whole federation is cooperating with him to their maximum level in all departments.

LOL special training? they only do recovery training with TM

[mahestan]

Is it correct that we are playing friendlies against Syria, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Greece & Lithuania in the following months before the WC?

[Saam]

I like CQ and what he's done for Iran's football is nothing less than a miracle. but that doesn't mean he's perfect and never makes mistakes.
He's had the PGL players for so long, giving them special training a day per week to make them fitter. He even promised the PGL coaches that the players he wanted to train would get better in quality and that the clubs could benefit from them even more.
So What happened?
CQ already knew a long time ago that PGL is not at the same standard as the European leagues. He knew since 2014 the players needed to be physically fitter. He even trained them to run more ahead of the last WC! and it was successful. The players could actually run for 90 minutes without getting tired. So again...what happened? This time he's even getting the friendlies he lacked and complained about the last time.
I don't expect TM to advance from it's group in the WC, simply because the opponents are too strong. Let's say I don't even expect us to win against Morocco. but if we do not play at least equally well as in the 2014 Argentina game, I would say CQ has failed us the WC miserably. No excuses will be acceptable at that time. Specially now that the whole federation is cooperating with him to their maximum level in all departments.

After having him as our coach for 7 years you should know by now that this is his way of getting what he wants. He's not an idiot and he's known about the PGL players' issues since day one. He obviously didn't genuinely realize this right now. By coming out with this speech and act, he is, like always, getting what he wants from IFF. He knows that this is the only way to get his way.

[Sly]

After having him as our coach for 7 years you should know by now that this is his way of getting what he wants. He's not an idiot and he's known about the PGL players' issues since day one. He obviously didn't genuinely realize this right now. By coming out with this speech and act, he is, like always, getting what he wants from IFF. He knows that this is the only way to get his way.

I truly hope that's what it is about and that you are right!

[Nariman]

Most of these players will break their limits when they enter the big games and reach new heights. Of course, CQ is totally right, but he is also trying to put endless pressure on the federation, because at this stage we can't afford to get satisfied and stop improving. CQ wants to squeeze out the max. level possible of the team until the WC starts. But deep inside he already has his master plan and trusts his players more than 100%.

[Roozbeh-G2006]

Branko says "how does CQ know if our players aren't ready? How many league games he has watched?"

I think anyone who watches football seriously and regularly and watched TM friendly games against the two African teams could tell you they are not really ready to play against the teams in our group and expect to get good results.

However, it is normal for league head coaches to moan when their players have to put TM over and above their clubs and do their national duties.

[Keano]

I like the positivism and optimism of the people here. Keep up the good work!

Cause a pessimistic person would say:

So after nearly a decade of being in charge you just woke up and realized this or are you just looking for excuses? And What can be done in just 40 days of best training at best facilities?

Turning our Goalkeeper into Manuel Neuer ?
Turning our Defenders into Boateng, Cannavaro, Marcelo and Dani Alves?
Turning our Midfield into Patrick Viera, Zidane and AK8?

Imagine any other coach of any other country would say this........you think any self respecting citizen of that country would say "Yes King [Enter Coach Name], the second messiah walking this earth bestowing his greatness upon our lowly nation, is totally right. We should forget about everything that's practical, logical and realistic and follow him as a herd of sheep".

Don't want to demotivate anyone or discredit any efforts by CQ, but the fanboy ajnabi parast attitude of a good portion of us (it was also the case with Branko) is really something.

But let's hope that I'm wrong. In the end, anything and everything to make TM shine in Russia.

Babak jaan,

You're totally mistaken, and possibly have not been following our domestic league and TM news closely. Over the years CQ has constantly and repeatedly been complaining about our domestic league players fitness problem and lack of training facilities and proper training by unqualified trainers.

To be fair to him, he has always pointed out these problems, hence consequently constantly getting hit and harshly criticized by the PGPL coaches for his comments on their fitness shortcomings. There is so much and national team coach can do. And he is actually right now bravely pushing too hard to hopefully get this 40 extra days to prepare these players.

The man plays his cards right and smart. He purposely gave enough playing time to domestic league's players, so that every single one of us, including PGPL coaches see them perform and compare them with our legionnaires. And we all witnesses the outcome loud and clear!

[FeLFeL]

Is it correct that we are playing friendlies against Syria, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Greece & Lithuania in the following months before the WC?

I don't think we are playing Syria or Greece.

[Keano]

I don't think we are playing Syria or Greece.

I believe we do.

[04041374]

CQ's statements are all over German and Austrian media. But he didn't explicitly stay that the PGL games need to be stopped, did he?

https://derstandard.at/2000076953779...schlaegt-Alarm

[FeLFeL]

I believe we do.

Ok then we are probably playing Syria, and Greece on non-Fifa days? These are our friendlies according to Google.