Reality Check : We aren't that good

[elnino99]

We are completely foreign to the concept of chasing a match.

So when it happens, we're like deer in the headlights, completely lose our direction and focus and collapse.

No, why are we so foreign to concept of being a goal down and chasing a match (against a proper team) ? We all know the answer.

But I can't beleive we hadn't prepared ourselves for such scenario....at least mentally!

[H.Behzadi FAN]

For what it's worth .. the players all ran towards the ref asking for a yellow because the Japanese attacker dived trying to get a cheap free kick. The ref allowed play to go on. At the end of the day THIS IS DOWN TO COACHING. You teach them to play til you hear a whistle. Also we have to wonder why Beiravand didn't do better on the cross. He didn't attack the ball. Concentration is vital. We lost it. And never got it back.
Our plan of attack was not the best ... BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE TAREMI up there with AZMOUN.

One of my biggest disappointments (even BEFORE this match) was JAHANBAKHSH. Yes he scored against Oman but he just hasn't produced since he left Holland.

Team is still on the younger side of their 20's. Most of these players will be back.
MOHAMMADI, KANNANI as well as IBRAHIMI and DEJAGAH were our best players today.

[khodam]

Reality Check : We aren't that good

Let’s just lose as a team guys. This is football - anything can happen. We lost to a very smart Japanese’s team on basically a strange defensive mistake and an even stranger penalty call.

Come on, lick your sore spots and move on. This TM has brought us joy and pride for such a long time. Let’s show them how much we appreciate these young men.

I am very proud of all of them.

[KC McElroy]

We are a top 4 Asian team. Against any of the other top 4 teams it could be either team's day. Today wasn't ours.

[H.Behzadi FAN]

We are completely foreign to the concept of chasing a match.

So when it happens, we're like deer in the headlights, completely lose our direction and focus and collapse.

No, why are we so foreign to concept of being a goal down and chasing a match (against a proper team) ? We all know the answer.

But I can't beleive we hadn't prepared ourselves for such scenario....at least mentally!

We are not foreign to it at all.
We almost tied Spain and Beat Portugal.

[Ghermez Agha]

Terrible thread wtf is this BS - we lose a big game and all of a sudden we aren't that good?

The reality check at hand is that we were not disciplined from the jump! I said it at half time and I have said it at the WC - we WORRY WAYYYYYYYY too much about the ref and his calls instead of focusing on the game and just playing. That in itself is what screwed us in the end and it is as simple as that.

[euphory]

We are indeed not good enough that why we were looking for fauls and complaining to the ref all the time, because we suck at ball possession and build up play against better teams.

[elnino99]

We are not foreign to it at all.
We almost tied Spain and Beat Portugal.

Key word right there.

Almost is for losers. I personally hate being always the almost team. Both in my club team (Liverpool) and national team (Iran).

There is nothing I despise more in football than "Almost".

Because that's been the story of my life following football for almsot 20 years. Almost, always almost. So so so close, yet always failing at the last step.

Almost

[ehsan singapore]

Let's face it.

Our WC performance is overrated. Spain and Portugal were just poor.

When was the last time we had a successful player in a top league?

talking pure BS, firsr of all spain, portugal were not poor. secondly today against japan till 60 min, we were in control, the defence act shit is not the whole team fault. we were not over rated.

[Ostad_Goosfand]

Unfortunately people are going to over analyze this game. Yes I agree, we are bad playing from behind. But if our players don’t act like buffoons on the first goal we probably win. We were in full control of the match, and then who knows we could have come back but the referee gives a ridiculous penalty

Don’t let 3-0 scoreline fool you, strategy was working until the players made mental mistake

[Golefarsi]

To tell the truth Japan was not that good. Its Iran that sucked. We gave all the goals to them for free and later we stoped playing football.. I dont know whom to blame for this but its really disappointing. I guess CQ will not be our coach anymore. It was a nice 8 years with him but its really time to move on. Losing 3-0 is really shameful.

[Doctor DOOM]

Just like after every failure we come here and discuss, curse, bitch and twist.
So I doubt we’d do anything different this time as well.

But lets face it. For all our defensive, valiant games at the WCs that seem to be highlights of CQ’s tenure in Iran, when it came to games we’re supposed to play offensive and eventually WIN, we failed more than succeeded.

My opinion is if we keep this glossy, shiny cover of stats/ranking that hides the reality of our football aside, we simply are not what we think we are.
I seriously doubt Japan, Korea or even Saudis give a flying f**k about ranking in Asia, while they always have their eyes on the ball and aim to do well where it matters; on the pitch.




So before we change this guy or that system or …, first we must do a couple of other things:

1- We HAVE TO ignore such shiny useless objects (stats & ranking). No stats or ranking ever helped a striker score a goal or a defender time his tackle. NOT ONCE in the history of the game.




2- We also must acknowledge our failings at such moments are the result of wrong strategies by our own IFF and powers that be.
Those who hide behind the numbers and stats, while effectively DENY our TM’s from ever raising itself or becoming better.
I’m talking about money.
It takes money to bring in or play GOOD teams that push us, expose our weaknesses, beat us and force us to come back from behind.

Without money, we are forced to play Palestine and Syria and … who never ever help hone our teams. Even when we beat them, we’re basically pulling the wool over our own eyes.

We need the funds. The same funds that the gov and regime denies us, while it sends BILLIONS to Syria, yemen, Lebanon, … while pocketing the rest for their children living luxuriously in the west.

You fans who cry and feel depressed why our team is incapable of stepping up, better know who is behind this misery. Our players have the potential. But are never given the chance to reach it.

[Prowess]

As a big CQ supporter, I think it's time for us to part ways. I admire everything he has done for team melli during his tenure but I can't help but attribute the 3 MAJOR flaws of why we lost the game back to the coach (especially the way we did):

1. Excessive long balls into the box
2. Not starting Ghoddos, and bringing in Torabi so late (You need to start the game with your max offensive power)
3. Constantly arguing with the ref (not adequately mentally prepped by the coach)

[Lorestani]

We are a top 4 Asian team. Against any of the other top 4 teams it could be either team's day. Today wasn't ours.

I thought we were superior? What happened?

[taha]

Honestly, the first goal was one of the most amateurish things I've seen in international football. I remember being told at 6 years old to "play to the whistle". This was the most elementary mistake I've seen made by Iran. It was a total lack of discipline, concentration, and professionalism.

As much as I hate to say it, Azmoun will never make it to a 'big' league with attitude like that. He plays with a huge chip on his shoulder, when the going is good, he's at the races, the minute things don't go well for him, he throws the toys out the pram like a belligerent child - could've easily picked up two yellows or even a straight red.

What we saw today was a team of lion hearts, who were the better footballers, lose against a team of cold blooded assassins, who focused entirely on their tasks and executed them to perfection.

As is the case with Iranians; heart over head, and that yields zero dividends! Discipline, discipline, discipline. Play professionally and there will be no need to come out and say "sharmandeye mardomim".

We lost today because of lack of discipline, focus, professionalism - simple.

Zende bad Iran.