Is it better to win in style?

[Pedram123]

It is a big deal for our continent, but a win from an own-goal versus Morocco isn't going to get us respect internationally.

That's the reality.
And the truth hurts.

We should use this as a momentum, need a result vs Spain or Portugal or you can forget about respect.

Asia does not win games at the World Cup. So the fact we won, is a big deal for our continent.

That's the reality.

[inarsenewetrust]

i agree that our strategy in the friendlies was more positive. but i think we played pretty good football from min 20-45. second half was a shitshow, i think it was because both teams were just riding on their emotions, even as a spectator i was drained by all the first half excitement.

we'll probably play more freely and confidently in these next two games, maybe get another pooladi moment and one of our players will dribble past 3 spanish defenders.

both teams riding on emotions ???? Go back and watch, you didnt understand. Iran's defensive block was even more incredible in second half, and prevented morocco from doing anything. Go see the frustration and doubt creep into the moroccan faces, this was a perfectly executed game plan, that the forwards failed to finish off, but we got away with their failings with a bit of luck

[Ando Teymourian]

It is a big deal for our continent, but a win from an own-goal versus Morocco isn't going to get us respect internationally.

That's the reality.
And the truth hurts.

We should use this as a momentum, need a result vs Spain or Portugal or you can forget about respect.

It won't get us respect from fans whose greatest source of footballing knowledge is the Troll Football Instagram page - who cares? I don't care what they, or some "analyst" who has never watched a football game outside of Champion's league think.

It WILL get us respect from people who actually work in world football and understand the game. That is much more important.

[OFFSIDE_1]

It is a big deal for our continent, but a win from an own-goal versus Morocco isn't going to get us respect internationally.
That's the reality.
And the truth hurts.
We should use this as a momentum, need a result vs Spain or Portugal or you can forget about respect.

so if we don't beat Spain, which is one of the best in the world, or we don't beat the Euro champions with Ronaldo, then we have no respect ??? Let's just say the fact that we are first in this death group, something that 99,.99% of people would not have predicted, should be enough to say that we have earned respect. The knowledgable fans realize this.

Furthermore, in the history of professional football, there have been many teams that have cheated there way into penalties, red card for opponents, fist of god type goals ...... those are the wins that you should be critical of, not a goal that was an error and was 100% legal .... a goal caused by pressure applied by our team. Not a goal caused by cheating. It is ridiculous for people to claim that a self goal is not legitimate. It is part of the game, plain and simple.

This is no different than a defender turning over a ball or a GK making and error like the one we saw from the Spaniard GK. People who claim a self goal is not legitimate should stick to synchronized swimming.

[Piroozi]

Winning in football is all about strategy, tactics, composure... and CQ is the master of that. This is especially true for a team like ours, because we aren't a world class team and lack superstars like Messi and Ronaldo, so calculated tactical gameplay is the best we can do right now. If you want to see "style" over strategy, be prepared to lose 3-1, and see how much respect we get then.

[Irandoust]

He did appreciate the fact that Iran. He just wanted to see Iran play more attractive football that's all.

[Irandoust]

You expressed your honest opinion on how it would have been better and sweeter if Iran had played a little more attractive football and you got all these negative feed back instead. I totally understand you.

[Irandoust]

The reason why Iran did not get any recognition for displaying their heroic performance against Argentina in 2014 was because the analysts knew that, that was a one time thing and Iran's football is too defensive minded to be taken seriously.
It was the same thing with Greece in 2004. Analysts knew that the reason Greece won the Euro cup was something that they could not explain on footballing terms so they accepted it, but knew that it is extremely unlikely to happen again. And it didn't.
The reason why countries like Holland And England have fans out side of their respective countries despite not winning any trophies is because they play attacking football. The way these two countries play, creates excitement among the football fans when they watch these teams on the football field.
The nature of the Iranian football in general is offensive. Iranian football players are technically gifted and are capable of playing an attractive football.
Even the current team is capable of playing attacking football and so there is nothing wrong with wanting to see Iran display an offensive football. But as all of you are aware, CQ's system is based on organized defense and quick counter attacks which has thus far worked in his favor. It has nothing to do with not having any or enough players to have an attacking style of display.
It is just CQ's defensive system.

[Mr.Click]

Is it better to win in style?.. yes, but who cares? ..ask Italy 1982

[Vestvood Vizard]

Man I knew PFDC was full of cynicism, but even I thought if we won against Morocco there would be full unity.

Goes to show that some people are only happy with a run and gun 3-0 win. Fair enough, but I didn't think anyone would bring this up 30 seconds after TM won.

No, I don't give a toss about the scoreline. Just play with pride and respect.

All the rolling around the grass, diving, wasting time? That was embarrassing. That's not what TM should be about.

And instead of showing off their talents, which Iran has, we resorted to knocking the ball backwards in the most cowardly fashion. That's not what TM should be about.

[FeLFeL]

I hate grass rolling and unsportsmanlike behavior too but most of our guys did not resort to that, I saw that almost exclusively from Rezaian. In general tho, I don't care how ugly the game was, we defended great, Beiran saved us a couple of times and we got lucky at the right time. Don't forget who hustled non-stop since being subbed in and got the foul for Haj Safi's FK by the way, it was Ghoddos! I think he should've came in earlier or maybe even started. Anyhow, get off your high horses about playing Joga Bonito in a world cup opener when we barely have cleats to play in and got sanctions squeezing us from each and every angle, not to mention our lack of structure and resources in Football, especially at the youth level.

This has been CQ's choice of style for us since day 1 and you can't argue with the results. In addition to all of the new talents he helped bring along, CQ will leave a strenghted Iranian defense as the biggest part of his legacy for our national team and with all these invaluable experiences we will have had under him by the time he is gone (like playing Argentina, Spain, Portgual, Nigeria, Sweden, Turkey, Chile, Russia, etc.), we will have a solid foundation and enough confidence to keep improving at the world stage and maybe one day under a more offensive-minded coach, we can play prettier football. Until then I'm not losing any sleep over anyone else's "respect" and will gladly take the W and 3 points!

[Babak agha]

Yes I do! It was pretty funny 4 years after the Falkland war vs the Brits haha

Haha by that I meant the average person being concerned or talking down on it. If any, it's actually being regarded as one of the special moments in football instead of bad/shameful one.

[mbaizai]

I was over the moon when Iran won, but it feels a bit hollow. It's not like Iran 2 USA 1, that game had a real pulse. Iran's strategem of little fouls really took the pulse out of the game. I don't know man. You can say a win is a win, but that just means when you don't win that you've drawn or lost in an ugly way. Against Argentina, Spain, etc it's understandable but Morocco, as good as they are individually, are not an unbeatable team for Iran. Iran could have played them like they did against Algeria, for example, which was much more positive

Maybe this is just the post-win high though, I don't know. I ran around the neighborhood after the goal. Now I feel about hollow.

i feel same way

[Roozbeh-G2006]

Of course it is better to win in style. But in a serious tournament a win is a win. Moroccans attacked because our game plan was defensive. If you put a sunday league team in they would attack too and look good and exciting because they are attacking. The Moroccans had no idea how to finish their attacks. They had a few chances. I really hope they don't play that way against Portugal and Spain because they will be ripped apart.

[Bessos]

I just wanna say... some people seriously need to get their priorities straight