Iran Bows out of Beach Soccer World Cup with Heads Held High
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Loading...PFDC – For the second time in a row, Iran bowed out of the Beach Soccer World Cup at the quarterfinal stage, after a heart-breaking 5-4 loss to Tahiti. But Team Melli and their fans should hold their heads high after a record-breaking performance that cemented their place among the world’s elite.
After losing to the eventual champions in 2013 by a single goal and at the same stage of the competition, Marco Octavio’s men were secretly hoping to achieve what no other Team Melli had achieved before… to win the world cup for Iran in a team sport.
But it became apparent right from the kick-off against the Tiki Toa (Warrior Gods) that this wasn’t going to be Iran’s day, after Boulokbashi saw his effort saved by the upright with just seconds on the clock. The Iranians finished the period trailing by one goal after hitting the post two more times.
By the time it was all said and done, Iran had hit the post 4 times with more than twice as many shots on Tahiti’s net, and forced Jo, the Tahitian goalkeeper, to make a total of 20 saves – more than three times as many as his Iranian counterpart.
It was a heart-breaking end to a phenomenal performance and a brutally tough draw that pitted Iran against three of the last edition’s four semi-finalists in just 4 matches. And for the second time in as many tournaments, Team Melli could very well have lost to the eventual champions by a single goal.
But none of that should overshadow the achievements of Marco Octavio’s men with a back-to-back quarterfinals’ appearance and top 6 finish in the tournament. Team Melli also improved on some of its tournament records, including the number of points earned at the group stage, most wins in a tournament and the least number of goals conceded at the group stage.
Consequently, the future can not be as bleak as some fans may believe, in the aftermath of a devastating loss at the world’s penultimate championship. The level of improvement under Marco Octavio has been stellar for a team that had registered a single win in four World Cup outings and twelve matches before 2013.
Indeed, Iran’s record at the 2015 Beach Soccer World Cup outstrips its combined record from all the previous five world cups with the same number of points but superior goal difference! A congratulatory pat on the back and a vote of confidence is the least Marco Octavio and his men deserve after their heart-filled and zealous performance in this tournament.
