WCQ 2022: Iran - UAE (Info, Reports, and Live Updates)

[peiman92]

2-0 Iran.

[Gol Bezan]

[mbaizai]

2-0 Iran.

This will be the score if their GK becomes Tafarell.

[Lorestani]

I agree that we are not defensively as compact as under CQ, but can't think of TM being pressing hard under his reign.
The reason why we were much more compact under CQ was because of his defensive approach with TM, where we mostly sit back and waited for counter-attacks. It was mostly against minor Asian Teams where we played offensively. When we took an offensive approach against Bosnia ( WC 2014) or Japan (AC 2019), we weren't compact (distance between the lines) anymore and concede in each case three goals.

For your last point, what was our specific plan for our game against China back in AC 2019? All of our 3 goals came from huge Blunder by the Chinese defenders...
Can't see how this game reveals more tactics than our last games under Skocic?

That's exactly the point. The game plan against China was very simple. Lob the ball from the defensive line to theirs, attack it viciously with your forwards and just wait for their back line to screw up the first touch, which they repeatedly did. Now that plan can only work against defenders with a poor first touch. It would be absolutely futile and even a sign of a lack of creativity otherwise (basically bekesh ziresh with no apparent purpose). The point is that CQ studied China, identified this basic weakness, and pounded on it so hard that master tactician Lippi was at a loss for words in the post-game press conference, knowing he was absolutely schooled by CQ. Skocic hasn't shown anything remotely similar in terms of reading TM's opponents. It's the same approach to every single game.

In terms of pressing, CQ's team did press hard. People criticized him in the group state of 2015 Asian Cup for the lack of possession against Bahrain, Qatar, and especially UAE. His willingness to forego possession, however -- and this is what his critics missed -- was because of his pressing style, usually organized by Ando, which was a concerted effort by the entire team (hence no distance between the lines), not individual players, as we now see under Skocic. CQ basically gave those three opponents enough rope (possession) to hang themselves and then exploited any mistakes viciously. Oh, how I miss him! There is nothing remotely similar to be expected from Skocic and I am not even blaming him. Dude his winning games left and right, but there is a ceiling to his capabilities. And we have reached it.

[peiman92]

This will be the score if their GK becomes Tafarell.

I like your new confidence, afarin 👍

[oracle]

carlos qrooooooosh egypt
if they beat senegall in wcq
matches....THAT MIGHT just
put iran in pot b..


cq zelzeleh
mahbooobeh
harchi deleh

[Doctor DOOM]

Mainly three points that reveal Skocic's deficiencies:
1. The distance between the lines is huge. Not a big issue against the likes of Lebanon, but something that will be ruthlessly exploited by bigger teams.
2. There is no CQ-like pressing. If at all, the strikers press at their own will, which exacerbates the first point (distance between lines). The team is not nearly as compact as it used to be, which puts huge strains on the defensive line.
3. There is no specific game plan geared toward the opponent. CQ had a different plan for each opponent. Remember Iran-China at the Asian Cup 2019? Nor does Skocic select players based on specific needs. We're back to the times of Branko when the same eleven players would start each game.

You do realise most of these can be leveled at CQ or anyone else also, right?
For example the distances between the lines. That is such a subjective assessment that can have 180 degree opinions on it.
One might say for example Those space as created when your forwards press high up momentarily. And there is not much of a space as the midfield also pulls up. So there is no way anyone can say the space between Taremi and Amiri is unacceptably more than the likes of Morata and Busquetes. Why has measured them?

Secondly the issue is compactness.
You're right. The spaces were incredibly smaller between lines under CQ bcoz his formation n tactics were extremely defensive, deep and close to our box.
And while teams struggled to score on us, WE ALSO STRUGGLED TO SCORE as well!
It's just different tactics.


Now to Team game plan.
You may not notice. But I see plenty.
A lot of wing play, which is excellent when the opponents are compact and huddled in the center.

I also see a major major emphasis on through passing & slicing the defense with quick on twos and even longer distance through balls.
Combinations on both flanks where our fullbacks are combining well with the offensive wingers.

And even long distance shooting. Used when opponents crowd there box.

These are all game plans.

Let's face it. Many of Skocic detractors say these things simply bcoz he is not a famous coach.
How many dared question the world famous CQ for consistently failing to have a plan B when we concede first?
How many questioned him for not having consistent tactics for set pieces?
For not insisting on shooting from distance when we face the bus?
For failing in both Asia cups, for never winning a trophy for Iran?
Not many.
Why?
Bcoz he was famous and we don't dare doubt him!!!!!!!!

[Shantaram]

Guys, where is Majid Hosseini?? Isn’t he good enough for TM anymore?? I don’t feel comfortable with Shoja at WC22

[Omids]

Guys, where is Majid Hosseini?? Isn’t he good enough for TM anymore?? I don’t feel comfortable with Shoja at WC22

I believe Majid tested positive for Covid before the Iraq game.

So any update of Covid situation for the UAE game?

[Iranianarsenal11]

SofaScore gave him a rating of 7.6.

SofaScore is secretly Shoja in his free time

[Iranianarsenal11]

\

Not sure if Sko is reading Iranian media but no other TM players from current squad has praised Sko and criticized his opponent as Braveheart Shoja.

I'd do the same if I were in Shoja's shoes

[sam20]

I'd do the same if I were in Shoja's shoes

Lol exactly right?

If you were in Shojas shoes, you'd probably be falling all over the place, not knowing how to use your feet.

Maybe that's why he's such a clown on the field and makes so many stupid mistakes.... It's his shoes that are the problem lol.

[04041374]

Nourollahi joined the team
https://www.tarafdari.com/node/2069616

[Lorestani]

You do realise most of these can be leveled at CQ or anyone else also, right?
For example the distances between the lines. That is such a subjective assessment that can have 180 degree opinions on it.
One might say for example Those space as created when your forwards press high up momentarily. And there is not much of a space as the midfield also pulls up. So there is no way anyone can say the space between Taremi and Amiri is unacceptably more than the likes of Morata and Busquetes. Why has measured them?

Secondly the issue is compactness.
You're right. The spaces were incredibly smaller between lines under CQ bcoz his formation n tactics were extremely defensive, deep and close to our box.
And while teams struggled to score on us, WE ALSO STRUGGLED TO SCORE as well!
It's just different tactics.


Now to Team game plan.
You may not notice. But I see plenty.
A lot of wing play, which is excellent when the opponents are compact and huddled in the center.

I also see a major major emphasis on through passing & slicing the defense with quick on twos and even longer distance through balls.
Combinations on both flanks where our fullbacks are combining well with the offensive wingers.

And even long distance shooting. Used when opponents crowd there box.

These are all game plans.

Let's face it. Many of Skocic detractors say these things simply bcoz he is not a famous coach.
How many dared question the world famous CQ for consistently failing to have a plan B when we concede first?
How many questioned him for not having consistent tactics for set pieces?
For not insisting on shooting from distance when we face the bus?
For failing in both Asia cups, for never winning a trophy for Iran?
Not many.
Why?
Bcoz he was famous and we don't dare doubt him!!!!!!!!

No, I do not think my criticism could be leveled at CQ. I think the criticism I presented is very Skocic-specific. Let me explain why:

First, in terms of distance between lines, I disagree with you that it is very subjective. Distance is very prone to being measured, it is not a fuzzy concept by any means. Now, looking at CQ's TM, the interesting point is that no matter whether pressing or defending, all the lines were close to each other. Under no circumstances were there any gaps between them. It is a misconception that it was just "different tactics" under CQ, because defending started with Azmoun and Taremi, while pressing involved the back line just as much (rewatch some games and notice how even PAG and Hosseini moved up close to the midline when the team was pressing). With Skocic, pressing involves the attacking line only, if it happens at all, while defending is left to the four-back, with gaps between those lines and the others.

Second, talking game plans, my point was not that Skocic has no game plan but that he has only one! That's a big difference. My point is that unlike Skocic, CQ had different game plans for different opponents, adjusting and readjusting his strategies depending on who TM was facing. All the things you mentioned (wing play, passing & slicing) may be true, but they do not invalidate my point, because they are invariant under Skocic. It is always the same thing irrespective of who we are facing. We saw initial cracks of this approach against South Korea, and I am curious to see how the next game against them will pan out, but I fear Skocic is just too rigid in his tactical approach.

As for your last point, I am not sure why you would say that. Do CQ worshippers exist? Yes, for sure. Am I one of those? I don't think so. I will say that I love the guy's passion, but that does not mean that I am willing to turn a blind eye toward his many missteps, character defects, and other negative traits that are his own worst enemies, having prevented him from becoming one of the top 5 coaches in the world in his era.

[mbaizai]

I haven't heard a single covid case for UAE.they did the test I believe early this morning.