Category: World Cup 2018

“Iran is facing its biggest challenge in history” Queiroz

“We’ve been drawn in the toughest group in the World Cup. Morocco are the best African team and the team’s results in the last two years speak for themselves. They have not conceded goals and claimed the African Nations Championship,” Queiroz said in an interview with Khabar Varzeshi sports daily.

“Spain and Portugal are also favorites to win the title. To book a place in the next stage is the biggest challenge in Iran’s football history,” the former Real Madrid coach added.  

“We will play at the World Cup for our pride, that’s why I am here and I believe that those who don’t back the idea are the people who don’t respect Iran’s football,” the Portuguese coach stated.

“For us, to be in knockout stage means conquering Mt Everest. This is the highest mount in front of Iran’s football and all of coaches and officials must take it seriously,” Queiroz concluded.  

Iran have been drawn in Group B along with Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

The Persians will kick off the campaign with a match against Morocco at Saint Petersburg on June 15.

Team Melli, meanwhile, face Spain in Kazan on 20 June before meeting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Saransk five days later.

How Carlos Queiroz turned Iran into Asia’s best World Cup hope

The former Manchester United coach eased the Iranians through qualification but they now want tangible finals success, something that has always eluded Team Melli

Sardar Azmoun, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Reza Ghoochannejhad
 Sardar Azmoun, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Reza Ghoochannejhad. Composite: Getty Images, AFP

The only one of the dozen names on Fifa’s shortlist for 2017 men’s coach of the year not working in Europe was Tite, who ensured Brazil were the first qualifier for the 2018 World Cup. Iran were second but that was not enough for Carlos Queiroz, who has now led three different national teams to four World Cups. He may have to wait for success at the World Cup to turn eurocentric heads.

That means finishing above two of Portugal, Spain and Morocco in Russia to progress to the knockout stage at the fifth time of asking. If there is any Asian team that can manage that then it is Iran. For four years Team Melli have been the highest-ranked national side on the continent, for just a little less time they have been the best on the pitch, too.

In Brazil four years ago Queiroz, whose six years as number two at Manchester United in the previous decade was split by a season in charge of Real Madrid, had the team well-organised in a tough group containing Nigeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina. A last-minute piece of Messi magic ended Iranian dreams of a first second-round appearance at the fourth attempt but Team Melli picked themselves off the floor. Now they are just as tight at the back but have more options going forward, younger overall but with more international experience.

Nine of the 23 who went to Brazil were based overseas but mainly spread around the Middle East and the second tiers of the big European leagues. The figure will be higher this time around, the leagues and performances are better and the players more active.

The winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh could mount a case – when he is not busy scoring and creating for AZ Alkmaar – to be the best player in the Netherlands this season. The £9m quoted a year ago in response to reported interest from Burnley, Watford and Bournemouth would be considerably higher now, especially with Napoli also monitoring him. The fleetfooted forward Reza Ghoochannejhad managed 19 goals for Heerenveen last season while the striker Karim Ansarifard has almost a goal a game for Olympiakos.

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Sardar Azmoun is one of Asia’s biggest stars at 23, has already scored in the Champions League for Rubin Kazan and has been linked with Liverpool. Young midfielders Saeid Ezatolahi in Russia and Saman Ghoddos of Östersund are looking forward to making the next step up the European ladder and a successful World Cup can’t do any harm.

The improvement was there for all to see in qualification for this summer’s finals. Qualification for Brazil was in doubt until the final whistle of the final game which blew to bring relief, Iranian gestures and swear words at the rival bench and South Korean bottles flying down from the terraces. There was no such drama this time. The road to Russia was pleasantly boring – words that do not usually go together in this football crazy country. Qualification quickly became a foregone conclusion and was made official with two games to spare.

Iran did not lose and did not even concede until the 10th and final game. It was vindication for Queiroz who took the reins in 2011, months after guiding Portugal to the last 16 in South Africa. The 65-year-old not only has everything running exactly how he wants on the pitch, he can be busy off it too.

Whether due to his nature, Sir Alex Ferguson’s nurture or cold calculation – or a combination of all three – he likes to keep everyone on their toes by creating tension. In qualification for 2014 he quarrelled with rival coaches, but these days his ire is focused closer to home. There was a big fallout with Iran’s coach from the 2006 World Cup, Branko Ivankovic, now in charge of champions Persepolis, which led to Queiroz resigning amid accusations that the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) was not giving the support he needed.

Officials in Tehran can find it all a little bewildering but know that Queiroz brings success. At least two of the other four Asian qualifiers were curious as to whether last January’s resignation was genuine. It wasn’t.

He is also vocal when it comes to preparations, warning the federation to ensure that all that can be done is being done. Before Brazil four years ago international isolation made it difficult at times to arrange decent games. Sanctions also made it tough for the IFF to receive monies owed from abroad and so afford the overseas training camps that Queiroz wanted. Preparation for Russia has improved but there is still some way to go. Togo, Panama, Venezuela, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia and Sierra Leone present decent opposition but do not really compare to Brazil, Belgium, Italy, Germany and Colombia, who have been lined up by fellow Asian qualifiers Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Australia. No wonder Queiroz talks of these Asian powerhouses enjoying “World Cup credit cards” that provide automatic access.

Despite the tough draw, Iran are looking forward to this June and showing the world what they are made of. If all goes well, a host of talented players may get the chance to move to bigger clubs in bigger leagues, a ready-to-take-off domestic market with a large, young and passionate population may just get the spark and investment it needs, and Queiroz may just get the recognition he deserves.

 

Since you’re here …

Spain prepare for Team Melli by playing Egypt!!

The Spanish has said that Spain has finalized 3 games as part of its preparation for the FIFA World Cup according to the Spanish newspaper AS 

 

The World Cup plan The Federation has practically closed the preparation plan for Spain for the FIFA World Cup in Russia. The first friendly match will be on Friday, March 23, against the current world champion, Germany, in Düsseldorf. Four days later, on the 27th, Spain will play another game of throne. The agreement is very close to play with Argentina, although the albiceleste is asking for a million and a half dollars for the match and that can be a stumbling block. The match would be played in the Metropolitan Wanda or the Villamarín.

In Las Rozas. Against what has been done in the last decade, Julen Lopetegui has decided not to prepare the World Cup outside of Spain and the preparation camp will be concentrated in Las Rozas until the team arrival in Krasnodar, base camp in Russia, on June 8, a week before playing the first game of the group stage of the World Cup, against Portugal in the city of Sochi.

Against Egypt. Spain will play two friendlies in Spanish territory, on May 29 and June 5, and another on the 9th of the same month,  in Krasnodar. It negotiates with countries that can serve as sparring for the World Cup rivals. The favorites are Italy (to prepare the game against Portugal), Ivory Coast (Morocco) and Egypt (Iran)!. 

It seems someone has got his compass totally wrong in the Spanish FA. They could do with the Google Map to show them the distance between Iran and Egypt who have very little commonality in footballing term and game plan.

World Cup 2018 draw: What did the coaches say!?

FERNANDO SANTOS ON WORLD CUP DRAW: «VERY DECEPTIVE GROUP»

The coach of the Portuguese National Team commented on the draw for the 2018 World Cup, which put Spain, Iran and Morocco in group B with Portugal. “Portugal has to take its share of responsibility when looking at a group of these teams, but when we notice the interest and  the attention, we realize that it will be a very difficult group. Right from the start in the first game, Portugal-Spain. It is important that we win this. Then for the two other teams that we are going to play, Iran finished their qualifying groups matches unbeaten.”vhe said after the draw, stressing why this is a” tricky group.”

“Spain is naturally the favorite team, as I have always said. “This is not the first time I say it or because I am going to face Spain. I have always said that it is one of the favorite teams to win this World Cup and Portugal is in charge of doing what it has done, which is to look for every game to win, “he said

MOROCCO coach : “NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE”

Hervé Renard, Morocco coach was pleased with the draw for the 2018 World Cup, which put Portugal, Spain and Iran in the same group as Morocco team. “We are so happy to be in the World Cup we have to face this group with great motivation. The worst we could do was that we were just satisfied with the qualifiers,” the Frenchman told TMC . “The first game with Iran will be decisive for the rest of the group, then we play against Portugal, and then with Spain, which everyone wants to avoid. We will do everything to qualify to the next round. Even if it seems difficult, in football nothing is impossible. You have to believe it, “he concluded.

“Yes,  I said to him to be calm, and take it easy …” Queiroz jokes

Carlos Queiroz, Iran coach, commented on the draw for the 2018 World Cup, which saw duels with Portugal, Spain and Morocco in Group B. “Personally I’m very happy because it’s a group with two very special country teams for me. For Iran, it’s going to be a very tough competition. It would always be so, regardless of the group. But when you have Spain, World Champion and Portugal, champion of Europe … for me, I could not have done better, ” he began by saying at the end of the draw that took place in Moscow on Friday.

Asked who is stronger, whether Portugal or Spain: «Well … first we will play with Morocco and then we start to prepare very well for the following games. What matters most is playing with ambition and leaving the World Cup with honor. No doubt Spain and Portugal are favorites, unless they make mistakes. It is unlikely. ” 

Queiroz confessed that he had already discussed the draw with his Spanish counterpart:” Yes, we have. I said to him to be calm, and take it easy …” (laughs). “

 

“PORTUGAL HAS A LOT OF FANTASTIC PLAYERS” LOPETEGUI

The Spanish national team has launched a first approach to the 2018 World Cup draw, which saw them drawn with Portugal, Iran and Morocco. “It’s a difficult group, complicated and it’s going to be tough. It is a World Cup and no team is easy, ” Julen Lopetegui quoted, When asked about facing Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo in particular, he said. “It’s not the time to talk about names. Portugal is the European champion, have a group of fantastic players, driven in a fantastic way. We are talking about the highest level of football. ” said the former FC Porto coach.

Queiroz: “Spain and Portugal are favorites unless there is an error”

EUROPE PRESS

12/01/201717: 45
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz has confirmed that both Spain and Portugal, “special” rivals in Group B at the 2018 World Cup, are clear “favorites” to advance to the round of 16, and praised the “quality” and the “intensity” of the players directed by Julen Lopetegui.

“They are favorites, unless there is an error,” he said in a statement to Cuatro after the FIFA World Cup 2018 drawing ceremonies  of the group stage, which took place this Friday in Moscow, before joking with his conversation with the Spanish coach. “I told him to be quiet,” he said with a laugh.

Thus, the Portuguese, ex-coach of Real Madrid, acknowledged that the draw has brought him two “special” rivals for him. “I am very happy, we have had two special places for me, first Portugal and then Spain, it is going to be a very tough competition, when you are with Spain, world champion, and Portugal, European champion, it can not be better for me, “he stressed.

On ‘the Red’, the Portuguese confessed that he worries “everything”, including “the quality of the players, the intensity and rhythm.” “We have to play with Morocco and prepare very well, we are facing the World Cup with great enthusiasm, with a lot of respect, and we want to go out to our World Cup matches with great dignity,” he concluded.

Iran in the toughest draw of them all

Team Melli will face the World Cup 2010 winners Spain, European Cup winners Portugal and the African Team Morocco in Group B of FIFA World Cup 2018.

Carlos Queiroz will have a tough time against his country team and World Champions Spain while the Africans are also a quality team that cannot be taken lightly.

Full program for Team Melli

15th-June-2018

18:00

St. Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg 

Iran vs. Morocco

 

 

20th-June-2018

21:00

Kazan Arena , Kazan

Spain vs Iran

 

 

25th-June-2018

21:00

Mordovia Arena , Saransk 

Iran vs. Portugal

 

 

Iran chances at FIFA world Cup 2018 draw

On 1 December, the Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place at the State Kremlin Palace in the heart of the country’s capital. The tagline of the event is “Where the stars align”, which refers not only to the glow of the best footballing nations in the world but also perfectly alludes to the idea of destiny as the road to the coveted FIFA World Cup Trophy is unveiled.

Iran will be represented in the ceremony by Mohammad Reza Saket and the head coach Carlos Queiroz.

 

By tomorrow, all of the 32 teams would have been identified and the pots will be filled as seen in the table below.

Team Melli will be in POT 3 and as customary , the draw attracts wide attention across the globe. Looking at the possibilities  for Team Melli, the best draw would be a group formed as follows. Most probably it will be Group A

 

   Russia  Croatia    Iran    Panama

The worst possible draw for team Melli will be :

   Germany    Spain    Iran    Serbia

 

The List of Qualified Teams

Ranks Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
1 Russia (Hosts) Spain (8) Denmark (19) Serbia (38)
2 Germany (1) Peru (10) Iceland (21)* Nigeria (41)
3 Brazil (2) Switzerland (11) Costa Rica (22) Australia (43)
4 Portugal (3) England (12) Sweden (25) Japan (44)
5 Argentina (4) Colombia (13) Tunisia (28) Morocco (48)
6 Belgium (5) Mexico (16) Egypt (30) Panama (49)
7 Poland (6) Uruguay (17) Senegal (32) South Korea (62)
8 France (7) Croatia (18)* Iran (34) Saudi Arabia (63)

 

 

 

Team Melli loses its clean sheet in draw vs. Syria

Two goals by the Syrians, ended the impressive record held by Iran in the qualifying rounds of the FIFA

In the last round of the competition, Syria surprised the huge fans in Azadi by taking the lead in the 13th minute of the match after a very poor clearance by Biranvand in goal allowing Tamer Haj Mohamad to head the rebound.

 Sardar Azmoun equalized for Team Melli in the added time of the first half by chesting the ball  into the empty net from a rebounded shot.

In the second half, Team Melli seemed to be in a mission and after long periods of controlling the game, Azmoun once again scored from a neat play with a simple slide of the ball. 

The Syrians did not give up despite their poor showing however, a real blunder in the dying minutes of the game by Alireza Biranvand, allowed Omer Al Souma to slide the ball between his legs into the empty net. It was an embarrassing goal to concede for a keeper that has kept 12 continuous clean sheets!. Biranvand was not at his best in the game and was faulted in both goals. The match ended 2-2 while the jubilant Syrian celebrated making the play-off round following Uzbekistan failure to beat Korea Rep. in Tashkent.

Team Melli played a good game and this draw has not tarnished its image , although a win would have been the real icing in the cake for the team. Of course,  changes are expected in the line up  with less than a year from the World Cup.

Man of the Match: Ashkan Degagah:

The midfielder who has been released by VfL Wolfsburg at the ed of last season played one of his best matches in a long time. He was the dynamo and spread the ball brilliantly. His performance and the quality of football he displayed was an eye candy for Team Melli fans.

After some break , Sardar Azmoun did what he does best, score goals. This was his 21st gaol for Team Melli in 27 matches. It is an incredible record for a player who is only 22 years old.

 

Iran vs. Syria :Joy for the Iranians , desperation for Syrians.

Tehran:

44 Years ago in Iran’s first ever participation in the World Cup , Team Melli had to face the Syrians. Similar to the status of tomorrow’s (Tuesday) match, Iran already qualified from its group. Team Melli played against Syria in the last match of the qualifying group. Iran has already beaten Syria 1-0 in the first encounter and with the match nothing but formality, the Iranians were looking ahead to a comfortable win and a light workout.

It was far from that as AbdulGhani Tatish scored an early goal for Syria in the 11′ minute in a surprise attack and for the rest of the match, the Syrians simply parked the bus.

A repeat performance is quite possible tomorrow if the desperate Syrians score first, however, that victory in Amjadiah stadium was the first and the last for the Syrians against Iran. 

 Syria will be looking for the perfect ending to their fairytale run in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with a win over Group A winners Islamic Republic of Iran at Azadi Stadium on Tuesday to guarantee at least a play-off berth for the Qasioun Eagles.

Syria sit two points behind second-placed Korea Republic and above fourth-placed Uzbekistan on goal difference with the Koreans and the Uzbeks facing off in Tashkent in a simultaneous kick-off, meaning a win could even see the visitors claim second spot and a historic first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance.

But the Syrians will be aware of the difficulty of the task as their opponents are unbeaten so far and have yet to concede a single goal in this campaign – something that has provided Iran with huge motivation even after wrapping up their qualification with a win over Uzbekistan in June.

A scoreless draw with Korea Republic on Thursday saw Iran move to just one game away from finishing the group stage with their record still intact, although Saeid Ezatolahi’s dismissal means the midfielder is suspended for Tuesday’s encounter.

Syria’s 3-1 win over Qatar saw them leapfrog the Uzbeks into third and leaves them with a very realistic chance of finishing in the top three. With Omar Khribin and the recently recalled Omar Al Soma leading the frontline, Ayman Hakeem’s side have the firepower to trouble the stubborn Iranian defence.

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IRAN vs. SYRIA

Head2Head

Venue Matches W D L Goals + / –
H 10 4 5 1 19 – 8 +11
A 8 5 3 0 10 – 3 +7
N 6 4 2 0 7 – 2 +5
Total 24 13 10 1 36 – 13 +23

 

Queiroz on top

Team Melli shut down the Korean machine once again and prevented over 66,000 fans in the landmark World Cup stadium from leaving the stadium cheerfully. Iran drew away to South Korea, the only team in these FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers that have left the Korean soil with a point.

The two teams have been rivals in Asia for many decades but this particular match was significant for both each having its own reason.

It was the Korean coach Shin Tae-yong’s first official match in charge after his predecessor, the Germen Uli Stielike was sacked following a 3-2 defeat by lowly Qatar in the last match.

Victory in Shin Tae-yong’s first match in charge would have secured second place in Group A for Korea with Uzbekistan beaten 1-0 by China, but they could not find the breakthrough goal despite group winners Iran seeing Saeid Ezatolahi dismissed for kicking Kim Min-jae in the head after 52 minutes.

Frankly, South Korea despite its star studded team and a marquee player in Son Heung-min , the Tottenham midfielder, did not show much improvement against Iran under the new coach. Their offensive threat was no more than mild and only few balls eventually reached Biranvand in goal and none in anger.

Iran did not have to win, so Queiroz built his team on the basis of not losing. A solid defensive game plan where defending started deep in the middle of the field, was good enough to hold the Koreans at bay.

Team Melli vs.Korea Rep. record

P W D L GF-GA G. DIFF
Total 30 13 8 9 32 – 32 +0

 

Queiroz was not going to allow the Koreans to get the better of him and he proved that he can pick his players to do exactly what he wants. The wide gap of experience between Shin Tae-yong & Carlos Queiroz showed in this match as the Korean coach failed to change the game plan, his offensive plans or change his offensive tactics to break the Iranians. Queiroz, on the other hand, easily adapted to losing a player and still keep the steadfast defense intact.

Saeid Ezatolahi seriously let Carlos Queiroz down. The Portuguese coach swears by the European based player for some very good reasons, discipline and professionalism being a couple of those attributes. However, The Rostov midfielder was a prime example of petulant and unprofessional act when he stepped on the Korean player’s head despite the Korean being guilty of rough play.

Such childish act was not in Queiroz’s script and he had to adapt and do some enforced changes. However, although the cunning Portuguese had very little problem in changing his line up to accommodate the loss of one midfielder, he has done that on the expense of falling short in the forward line allowing the Koreans to increase the pressure on his defenders.

One amazing performance in this match belonged to the Team Melli fans in the World Cup Stadium. The small groups of Iranian fans were vocal and supported Team melli with passion. Their chant of Iran was heard all over and clearly picked up by the TV microphones.

Team Melli players greeted those fans at the end of the match.

Syria is the last match and another meaningless encounter; however this proud record of clean sheet must be protected at all cost. It is now a mission.

 

Rezaeian & Ali Karimi