What World Cup group has been the most difficult for us?

[KC McElroy]

We've been in the World Cup 5 times. Which group do you think was the most difficult? Feel free to elaborate on the order of difficulty of the other groups too.

Without a doubt our most difficult group was 1978: Holland, Peru, Scotland. The World Cup only had 16 teams so in essence each opponent was a second round team. Holland was the previous and soon-to-be current World Cup runner up. Peru was the reigning South American champion. Scotland was a strong European team tipped to win the World Cup (albeit mainly by the Scots themselves). Three very difficult opponents.

The next most difficult to me were the groups that had two difficult opponents and one minnow, which would be 1998 (Germany, Yugoslavia, USA) and 2018 (Spain, Portugal, Morocco). As far as the two strong teams it's very balanced between these two groups although I give a slight edge to 2018 as Yugoslavia really hadn't achieved anything. For all that the US had achieved locally (runners up in their latest continental championship) in reality they were major fluff. Not that Morocco was anything to brag about, having only reached the quarterfinals of their latest continental championship. But overall Morocco was the more difficult of the two. As such I rate 2018 more difficult that 1998.

Theoretically our only major obstacle in 2014 was Argentina with the other two games against teams we expected and perhaps should have beaten (Nigeria and Bosnia). Had we not messed up against Bosnia we probably would have made it too.

In 2006 our seeded team was from CONCACAF while we were grouped with an African team that wasn't and still hasn't been anything in world or African soccer. Enough about this joke of a group.

[Omid177]

I don't really know how strong our 1978 group was because I wasn't even born then but besides that I can be sure that our 2018 group was the most difficult one.

[KC McElroy]

I don't really know how strong our 1978 group was because I wasn't even born then but besides that I can be sure that our 2018 group was the most difficult one.

Look at the 16 teams currently in the second round. Pick 3 of them to be grouped with us and tell us what you think of that group.
Actually to make it a closer match pick 2 European and 1 South American team from the remaining 16 teams.

[DR Strangemoosh]

I misunderstood the question sorry.

I voted for the one which we made the most difficult for us (2006) rather than the one which on paper was the hardest group (2018)

[KC McElroy]

I misunderstood the question sorry.

I voted for the one which we made the most difficult for us (2006) rather than the one which on paper was the hardest group (2018)

You can unvote and vote again.

[Omid177]

Look at the 16 teams currently in the second round. Pick 3 of them to be grouped with us and tell us what you think of that group.
Actually to make it a closer match pick 2 European and 1 South American team from the remaining 16 teams.

Russia, Switzerland and Colombia?

[Rooyintan]

We've been in the World Cup 5 times. Which group do you think was the most difficult? Feel free to elaborate on the order of difficulty of the other groups too.

Without a doubt our most difficult group was 1978: Holland, Peru, Scotland. The World Cup only had 16 teams so in essence each opponent was a second round team. Holland was the previous and soon-to-be current World Cup runner up. Peru was the reigning South American champion. Scotland was a strong European team tipped to win the World Cup (albeit mainly by the Scots themselves). Three very difficult opponents.

The next most difficult to me were the groups that had two difficult opponents and one minnow, which would be 1998 (Germany, Yugoslavia, USA) and 2018 (Spain, Portugal, Morocco). As far as the two strong teams it's very balanced between these two groups although I give a slight edge to 2018 as Yugoslavia really hadn't achieved anything. For all that the US had achieved locally (runners up in their latest continental championship) in reality they were major fluff. Not that Morocco was anything to brag about, having only reached the quarterfinals of their latest continental championship. But overall Morocco was the more difficult of the two. As such I rate 2018 more difficult that 1998.

Theoretically our only major obstacle in 2014 was Argentina with the other two games against teams we expected and perhaps should have beaten (Nigeria and Bosnia). Had we not messed up against Bosnia we probably would have made it too.

In 2006 our seeded team was from CONCACAF while we were grouped with an African team that wasn't and still hasn't been anything in world or African soccer. Enough about this joke of a group.

I think the same as you.

2006 & 2014 we had the best chance to get out of the group but blew it.

[teammelli91]

Should this even be a question? Group B from the 2018 FIFA World Cup with Spain Portugal and Morocco.

What luck we have to take our best squad to the World Cup and have this difficult of a group. We still showed the world what we are about and that we are more than capable to play will the likes of Spain and Portugal. Or even Argentina and Germany for that matter.

Football is progressing and our football has progressed significantly due to our head coach and to those who SUPPORTED our head coach. Now our national team has a training ground and facility thanks to Mehdi Taj and his company.

It would be the best decision to keep Carlos Queiroz until the 2022 FIFA World Cup (assuming we will at least reach the final of the Asian Cup).

[teammelli91]

The 1978 World Cup would be the second most difficult. Actually now that I think about it, it’s a toss up for me with 1978 and 2018.

Peru was arguably the best South American side in the 1970’s after Argentina and Brazil. From what I have watched and read about (I wasn’t alive then). Holland were a powerhouse and Scotland were like the Morocco of 2018 for us.

The difference is that we took a more cohesive and well structured team (in terms of chemistry) as opposed to 1978. NOT to take anything away from the likes of Rowshan, Parvin, Hejazi, and company..

Also, we have to consider that a lot has changed in 40 years and we are more capable of studying our opponents than before. The speed of the game has also changed. Many legends of football have said that the tempo of a match has changed a lot. So you can’t really compare a team from now to a team from 30-40 years ago.

We also went into Russia under the tutelage of Carlos Queiroz who managed our Team Melli for 7 years. Not many coaches stay for that long.

I guess it’s hard to really say which group was the hardest but my vote goes to this current squad.

[KC McElroy]

The 1978 World Cup would be the second most difficult. Actually now that I think about it, it’s a toss up for me with 1978 and 2018.
Peru was arguably the best South American side in the 1970’s after Argentina and Brazil. From what I have watched and read about (I wasn’t alive then). Holland were a powerhouse and Scotland were like the Morocco of 2018 for us.
The difference is that we took a more cohesive and well structured team (in terms of chemistry) as opposed to 1978. NOT to take anything away from the likes of Rowshan, Parvin, Hejazi, and company..
Also, we have to consider that a lot has changed in 40 years and we are more capable of studying our opponents than before. The speed of the game has also changed. Many legends of football have said that the tempo of a match has changed a lot. So you can’t really compare a team from now to a team from 30-40 years ago.
We also went into Russia under the tutelage of Carlos Queiroz who managed our Team Melli for 7 years. Not many coaches stay for that long.
I guess it’s hard to really say which group was the hardest but my vote goes to this current squad.

I think that's the key point which makes many PFDC members believe our soccer started in 1997. It's very straight forward logic that the round of 16 is one round beyond and more advanced than the group play of a 32 team World Cup.