Category: World Cup 2014

19/06/2014

Ghoochannejhad: We’ve got nothing to lose

19 Jun 2014

FIFA.com

It is safe to say that the crowd at this past Monday’s Iran-Nigeria game at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba were not exactly bowled over by the spectacle. After all, the match yielded the sole goalless draw of the first round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ group-stage action.

There is no doubt Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi was busier than his Nigerian opposite number, Vincent Enyeama, but the rest of Team Melli looked supremely drilled tactically. Up top, Reza Ghoochannejhad worked tirelessly and, despite failing to hit the net, scored 7.53 in the Castrol Index, outperforming several bigger – though not longer! – names including a certain Lionel Messi.

The 26-year-old voiced his delight at the point gained in an interview with FIFA: “It was a tough match. We knew they were a physically strong team, but that didn’t stop us putting in a good performance. We pressed them constantly and our tactics nullified their game.”

Coach Carlos Queiroz was unstinting in his praise for the marksman, whom he personally convinced to represent Iran rather than the Netherlands, where the hotshot played at youth level. “He put in an excellent shift.

“We were focused on keeping it tight defensively against an extremely physical Nigeria side and, despite the fact that he frequently found himself isolated up front, he still managed to press the opposition. I was impressed by his performance and I hope my players give him more support against Argentina,” the Portuguese coach added.

The Charlton forward is adamant that the AFC side are out to build on their solid start to reach the Round of 16 for the first time in four appearances at the finals: “The point will give us confidence and mentally speaking the team have never been stronger. We dropped [two] points but we did what we set out to, which is gratifying. We’re physically and mentally ready to take on Argentina and I’m hoping to score against them.”

Free from pressure
Ghoochannejhad’s bullishness should not be mistaken for cockiness: he simply believes that all the pressure is on the two-time world champions and their talisman, Lionel Messi. The Iranians, meanwhile, will be unencumbered by expectations, and any sort of positive result will be a bonus ahead of their final group fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“We have to enjoy it and follow the coach’s instructions to the letter. We’ve got absolutely nothing to lose in this match,” stressed the man who enabled Iran to qualify top of their group with his winner against Korea Republic. “Argentina are among the favourites this year, while the same can’t be said for us. All the pressure will be on their shoulders and we will have to show our resilience, like against Nigeria,” he went on.

Even if Team Melli are defeated by La Albiceleste, they will still have a chance of making it through the group going into their meeting with the Bosnians, whom they have beaten in four of five friendly encounters. Despite this auspicious statistic, Ghoochannejhad is refusing to count Iran’s chickens before they have hatched: “This is the World Cup and that’s no way to approach things; [right now] the most important match is the Argentina game. We have to try to get a good result before we can talk about qualification.”

As he has made abundantly clear, the man nicknamed ‘Gucci’ isn’t looking past Messi and Co and is aiming to mark the game in style: by putting the ball past Sergio Romero to open his World Cup account.

19/06/201419/06/2014

Queiroz : Exclusive interview with Publico

Full interview by the Portuguese website publico.pt with Carlos Queiroz translated from Portuguese to English

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Carlos Queiroz is determined to go down in history as the only coach to successfully qualify four teams from different countries to the World Cup finals. At the end of the tournament in Brazil, the African continent will be his next destination. In an exclusive interview with Publico on the eve of the World Cup Premiere of Iran against Nigeria (0-0), the coach, 61, reveals some details of his spells at Real Madrid and Sporting, given his role in the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to the Spanish capital and recalls the difficulties he faced in the preparation of Iran

What is it like running the job at World Cup for Iran?

We are here in a kind of chess game. On the one hand we have to work on the balance of the team to the requirements of the World Cup; on the other hand , the physical, athletic and mental conditions do not allow players to go far. But preparations went according to what we had planned, despite the current circumstances existing in the country. We ended up playing only four preparation matches, but given the financial constraints related to international economic sanctions [with many teams refusing invitations to Iran for games] and the difficulties that the federation was in, we had to submit to the availability of some ‘friends’. And even so it was my personal contacts behind the scenes that led to Angola, Montenegro, Belarus, and Trinidad and Tobago to be available to play with us without major costs. Such was the reality that we faced.

You have been seen as an authentic hero in Iran …

Football has these spells to turn people into heroes. The results cause this illusion as often it also cause the opposite. I continue to be the same, but I’m really proud and satisfied. I would even say it was the hardest job I’ve had in my career. It was necessary to take everything I had inside me to get here. Being in the World Cup was not the result of a prize. Bring a team of amateur players for almost a proof of this, highly professional, with the demands of modern football, it was very difficult. It was an adventure. In little more than three years we have played over 50 games, lost only six times and we reached the top FIFA ranking of Asia. But the position in this table is not a true reflection of the sport because Iran is far behind of Japan and South Korea.

You went to get some experienced players and ‘naturalizing’ others born outside Iran. Did they add something to your team?

Yes, they brought some international experience to the team. But even so, in the eyes of analysts, it is almost always unrealistic even imagine the qualification of Iran for the second round of the World Cup. When addressing our group in Brazil, no one talks about our team , seems that we do not not account for this championship. And you cannot ignore that, because honestly, is a team of amateurs on and off the field. Have some players who line up on professional football in Europe, but in teams of second tier. In Iranian team no player has ever participated in the Champions League.

“Maybe my next career choice keep in sight become the first coach to classify four different teams to the World”

Carlos Queiroz

And that goal is unrealistic?

We know that we will play against three very powerful teams [Nigeria, Argentina and Bosnia] and if they give us an opportunity we must be prepared to take advantage. We have to utilize the spaces on the field and at the right times, trying to fight back, using the spaces and try to shoot at goal. We have to do everything with a positive mindset. We’re here to play in another league and when we are done move on to another phase in the evolution of the team. What I can say is that it was not easy to grasp my players and convinces them that they can fly. My job was to make them feel that, together and united, can create a real team spirit. Let’s see if we can sustain it for 90 minutes every game of this World Cup.

There is a great excitement in Iran for participating in this World Cup.

It is a country where football is in the DNA of people. It’s total madness and a passion for all Iranians. It is in their blood. The big derbies fills the stadium with a hundred thousand spectators. Each game has a television audience from 35 million to 50 million viewers. If Iran to score a goal in Brazil, millions of people will celebrate in the streets. For me as a coach it is very rewarding to leave this legacy in technical selection. We have come to this World Cup and Qualified for the Asian Cup 2015, being top in the group. I’ll leave the place Iran in a better place than I found it.

Looks like a farewell...

Yes, my bond (contract) will end here in World Cup. There was a phase of ‘dating’ in Iran they even proposed to me to continue and they are still continuing to demonstrate this desire for me to carry on the job in Iran. But there is not enough support from the government, and it seems clear that there was no longer an effective interest due to financial conditions, to keep the work at the level of teams. The dialogue was cut and I have decided that I will not stay.

Did you consult with Ferguson, Mourinho and Capello preparing for Iran?

I have a very close relationship with them, especially with Ferguson. We talked a lot, especially from their experience with smaller teams. I also spoke with the ‘Bora’ Milutinovic, who coached the U.S., Nigeria and China, countries that were also underdogs in these competitions.

Are you proud to be the Portuguese coach with the most experience in the world?

On one hand quite proud , on the other worried. I see myself as one of the last dinosaurs of the old guard [laughs]. Maybe it is time to start thinking about getting into the boots and give way to new ones. I am 61 years now, more than 30 years of football career and sometimes, what is difficult is not to succeed, but Staying it. I was lucky, privileged, effort and humility when things became difficult for me in Portugal, pack up and seek success where there was work. Never considered any dishonorable work. I was in the MetroStars [USA] I went to Japan [train Nagoya Grampus Eight], after that I managed the national teams of United Arab Emirates and South Africa

“I was lucky, and modest, when things became difficult for me in Portugal, I packed up and looked for success elsewhere” Carlos Queiroz

Are there any plans are for retirement?

I feel very well still. Maybe my next career option has become crosshairs as the first coach to qualify four different teams to the World Cup. I got South Africa, Portugal and now Iran to the World Cup. No one qualified 4 teams only three coaches qualified three different teams for this competition.[/column]

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Will it be as complicated as Iran?

Not so hard for the selection in question, which has many players playing in European first divisions teams, but it’s tricky because it will be an extremely competitive African environment. It’s very hard on this continent to qualify for the World Cup. But I cannot reveal the name of the team and still have not fully taken the decision.

Is there no chance of coaching a club?

Not until I had an offer to stay here [Brazil] and another to go to England. But due to circumstances of my private life, it is difficult, in the near future, to accept a club coaching job.

“The story of the world’s great teams is always spoken of great players and a star. By this I mean that Portugal cannot think of having success with the” no “Cristiano Ronaldo of 2010 World Cup in the team”

Carlos Queiroz

Have you regretted any decisions in your career?

I’ve always been quite bold and adventurous in my decisions.

Leave Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2003-04 was a mistake?

Ferguson [former United manager where Queiroz was assistant and possibilities to take the top job coach] tried to ask me to not accept. He knew the reality of the club, but when Real Madrid appear in people’s lives, the first thing we do is say ‘yes’ and only then we think. It is probably the most attractive club in the world for a coach, but extremely complex due to its greatness. But no coach in the world can refuse. To tell the truth, things were simpler for me than people can imagine. The relationship with the players was great and always played a great game.

What went wrong?

Unfortunately I could not warn the president [Florentino Perez] that the decisions we were taking were profoundly wrong, especially at the management level of important players. Release [Claude] [Old average defensive] Makelele to Chelsea for the sake of 600 000 euros. He was a crucial player for the team. Had actual cost of millions to the club. There was boastful decisions of the president. If he had listened to me, Cristiano Ronaldo had been hired earlier and for a much lower price that was paid for his transfer later. The same happened with Pepe. I ended up alone, but after me, how many coaches fell below at Real Madrid?

That memory has its passage by Sporting [only club he trained in Portugal]?

I know well what it was Sporting who found when I arrived [guided the “lions” between 1993 and 1995]. The team has not won anything for a few years and ended the championships away from first place. In my first season [replaced the English Bobby Robson, in the 1993-94 season] finished three points behind Benfica [who won the title] and went to the final of the Cup of Portugal with FC Porto [Sporting was defeated in the Grand Final for 2 1 after a goalless draw in the first game]. In the second year [1994-95] around the league have played against FC Porto and won the Cup of Portugal. All with great difficulties, because at that time is that one could speak of the system and was difficult to coach Sporting. It was very hard to play in those conditions, but that will be for a memoir that will write.

Got everything sorted out with the Portuguese Football Federation [PFF]?

Everything. With federation I have no pending problem, however. What happened [litigation FPF after they have terminated the contract with the coach at the end of the 2010 World Cup, for breach of trust] were due to interference of outside people who were involved and had influence with the Federation. The FPF is my home, where I was born for football.

Still hurt by Cristiano Ronaldo who blamed you after elimination in the 2010 World Cup?

No, I’m absolutely detached and indifferent. Neither he nor I owe nothing to each other. I was his coach and friend on and off the field. A decision to transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid was taken at my house in Lisbon, in my living room, next to my family. Asked Ferguson to come to Portugal to resolve peacefully the impasse in the negotiations. I felt it was my duty as a friend and coach and do not regret it. Now if Cristiano, at some point in his life, he should misunderstand me act that way, I have to respect. Does not make me to do anything against him, but I still think it was not a fit, adjusted and suited for his position as the Captain of national team to behave as such. Honestly, I did not like and it would be hypocritical if I said otherwise. He probably understood that it was what I deserved at the time. Only he can tell, never had contacts with him.

The rout of the Netherlands to Spain (5-1) meant the burial of tiki-taka?

I hope that was not the end of the concept of football that charmed and captivated the world. It may not be over. Like all things in life, no style of football can stand for ever tomorrow, the tiki-taka may evolve to another level. These setbacks are breaks in the success and Spain will have to learn to regenerate a superior platform. Ever felt were necessary adjustments since Confederation Cup [in 2013, when Spain was defeated by Brazil in the final, 3-0]. My life experience in football leads me to contradict the maxim that advises not to tinker with the team that wins. This is one of the biggest deceptions that settled. I think exactly the opposite: when it is on top of a style of play, must move, but without changing the principles. Evolve is a factor of human nature and society.

what do you think of the standard of the Portuguese national team [the interview was taken before the match with Germany in Salvador]?

I liked the warm-up games. The team is solid, confident and above all have a great virtue: so many players, principal or alternate, know their function and their role on the field. But the story of the world’s great teams is always taken great players and a star. By this I mean that Portugal cannot think of having success with the “no” Cristiano Ronaldo. Whether playing as played with Spain in the 1/8^th finals [in which Portugal was eliminated 1-0], where did a sprint or a dribble, will be more complicated. Portugal to get far in Brazil, we need the best version of Ronaldo. Only he can make a difference, but if you display as in South Africa we will have less chances. I hope this injury does not affect his performance.

Who do you see as the big favorites for the title?

In the end, the “dinosaurs” will move on in the competition and should go far. Germany, the Netherlands, Brazil and Argentina are the leading candidates and then appears an outsider. I hope that in the first line, is Portugal, but can also be an African team or Belgium. [/column]
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19/06/201419/06/2014

Confirmed : Queiroz to leave Team Melli after the World Cup.

Iran’s preparations for Saturday’s clash with Argentina have been rocked by the news that coach Carlos Queiroz intends to stand down after the World Cup.

The former Real Madrid boss masterminded Team Melli’s qualification for Brazil 2014 and inked a new deal earlier this year ensuring he would be be in charge until the end of the tournament. Iran’s football chiefs are keen for the popular Portuguese to stay on, but Queiroz’s departure looks inevitable after he stated he doesn’t believe he can take the country any further due to financial restrictions. “I will end my relationship (with Iran) after the World Cup,” he told Portuguese publication Publico. “There was a moment when Iran proposed me to stay, and they still do show they want me here. “But there is not enough support from the government, and it’s clear this interest, in fact, is over, due to financial conditions, to keep doing the job we have been developing at the national squads. “The dialogue is over, and I already decided that I am not going to stay.”

Queiroz oversaw Iran’s 0-0 with Nigeria in their opening Group F match on Monday, and is now preparing his side for a showdown with Lionel Messi and Argentina.

18/06/201419/06/2014

The Guardian:Iranian president tweets World Cup chillout pic

Rare glimpse of an off-duty Hassan Rouhani cheering on his team against Nigeria, in a tracksuit with a cup of tea

Saeed Kamali Dehghan
The Guardian, Tuesday 17 June 2014 14.10 BST

Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani watching Iran v Nigeria at home in Tehran. Photograph: Twitter

It’s 11.30pm Tehran time and Hassan Rouhani is relaxing at home, watching the World Cup match between Iran and Nigeria.

His usual dark clerical robe (aba) is discarded, his white turban (ammameh) put aside, he sits in a tight-fitting Iranian team shirt (unbuttoned), bare arms on show, and tracksuit pants on his sofa watching a widescreen TV.

Hassan Rouhani There’s no bottle of beer, but a cup of Persian tea and a plate of fruit in front of him. It’s clearly carefully posed – too good to be an spontaneous picture – but still, quite remarkable for a 65-year-old Iranian cleric.

“Proud of our boys who secured our first point – hopefully the first of many more to come,” the president tweeted, referring to the goalless draw in Curitiba, along with the photo – retweeted at least 3,000 times. Rouhani has 213,000 Twitter followers.

The ‘average Joe’ pictures are all part of Iran‘s soccer diplomacy. In Vienna, where senior Iranian and western diplomats were engaged in intense nuclear negotiations, talks were put on hold on Monday night too allow Iran’s foreign minister to watch the match.

Iranian nuclear negotiators watch world cup

Iranian nuclear negotiators glued to a big screen. Photograph: Twitter

A picture posted on Twitter by Iranian journalist Akram Sharifi, showed Mohammad Javad Zarif sat next to senior Iranian nuclear negotiators glued to a big screen showing the match, joined by a pool of Iranian journalists.Rouhani’s predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was an avid football fan but Rouhani’s picture is probably the first of its kind showing a president, who is also a cleric, off-duty at home. It is also remarkable because clerics in Iran have in the past criticised football as a western sport and are generally critical of men wearing short-sleeve clothing.

Very few photographs of the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been published without a clerical robe. There is almost no picture of his wife available online.There is an unwritten law prohibiting Iranian cartoonists from depicting clerics.

Reza Haghighatnejad, an Iranian analyst with the website Iranwire, said Rouhani’s photo was “one of the few successful credits in the one-year balance sheet” of Rouhani’s media team.

Some have criticised Rouhani for not having his wife by his side as he watched the World Cup match Despite this, Rouhani’s wife, Sahebe Arabi, has engaged in a number of public appearances since her husband assumed power.

In his first year as president, Rouhani, has become an outspoken critic of dogmatism among his fellow clerics. “Some people still live in the stone age,” Rouhani complained last week.

Rouhani has locked horns with the Iran’s hardliners after saying “we can’t take people to heaven by force and with a whip.”

Female football fans cannot attend football matches at Iranian stadiums.

In their first match in Brazil, Iranian players wore kits highlighting the cause to preserve Iranian cheetahs.

18/06/2014

Carlos Queiroz “fans must judge players on reality of Iranian amateur league !!”

• Coach hits back over boos after dour draw with Nigeria
• Portuguese praises his ‘amateur league’ squad’s achievements

The Guardian, Tuesday 17 June 2014 16.43 BST

Carlos Queiroz said his Iran players deserve 'respect and civility' for reaching the finals — *Carlos Queiroz said his Iran players deserve ‘respect and civility’ for reaching the World Cup finals.*

When the final whistle went in the first 0-0 draw of the World Cup, Iran’s players gathered in the middle of the pitch in Curitiba and applauded their fans while boos rang out around the stadium. But the Iran coach, Carlos Queiroz, insisted he was satisfied with the team’s performance and gave a powerful defence of their achievements in reaching the finals, as he sought to remind World Cup supporters of the reality of Iranian football.

“We are not celebrating a great day, we are not celebrating the draw, we are just celebrating our work,” Queiroz said. “We are celebrating the effort that the team did on the pitch for 90 minutes. I know that the people in Iran are very happy this evening.”

Iran have won only one of the 10 games they have played in the World Cup and they have not qualified for the finals of the tournament since 2006 but they reached this stage by defeating South Korea, making them the best team in Asia. Of their starting XI, six play in the Iranian league, one in Kuwait, one in Qatar and two in the Premier League – at Fulham and Charlton Athletic. And their preparation has not been easy either, with the Iranian federation struggling to arrange friendlies and resources being limited. Players even discovered their kit was shrinking in the wash.

“Fans need to know what we did over three years to be here,” Queiroz said. “You have to judge the performance of our players based on the reality. You have to judge our players not as players from Liverpool, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, or Corinthians but as players that play in an amateur league. You need to understand that when you watch them on the pitch.

“I have the right to come here and tell you that, so that you know, otherwise you will not realise. I want you to judge what these players have done as a great achievement. In Asia, we qualified number one, with South Korea behind us. We’re ranked ahead of Iran and South Korea and this is a huge achievement. My players deserve civility and respect for what they have done.”

In the front row of the press room, Nigerian journalists were gathered and Queiroz told them: “If you want to play a friendly, you go to London and you play a friendly. For us, it does not work like that. We have problems [just] to arrange matches and that is why I am very happy with what we have done. I think football people understand what we have done. Most of our players play in an amateur league. Our players deserve respect, OK?”

There was respect for Iran from Nigeria. Both Mikel John Obi and the coach, Stephen Keshi, said they had been frustrated by Iran – describing them as a team that sat deep and never sought to attack – but admitted that doing so was legitimate, even if Keshi did notice a bit of “unexpected physicality”. “Fair play to them; they knew what they were doing,” Mikel said.

Like Queiroz, Keshi too was keen to bring a little realism to the evening. “Criticism is part of the game. We don’t always have patience, we don’t always understand football. In my country people want to win all the time and they don’t understand that it doesn’t always work that way,” he said.

And asked if he had the solution for Nigeria’s second game, Keshi replied: “I’m not God, I’m just the coach.”

18/06/2014

Iran captain Javad Nekounam calls for improvement

Iran captain Javad Nekounam was satisfied with his team’s draw against Nigeria in Group F but has called for improvement.

Published: 17.06.2014

Carlos Queiroz’s men opened their FIFA World Cup campaign with a goalless draw in Curitiba on Monday – the first stalemate in 14 games thus far in Brazil.

The result further highlighted Iran’s defensive capabilities, having kept their fourth clean sheet in five competitive games.

But while Nekounam was pleased to have claimed a point, the 33-year-old midfielder said his team-mates must improve in the attacking third after scoring just four goals in five matches in the lead up to the World Cup.

“We could have snatched a win in the last 20 minutes, but we lacked the finishing touch,” Nekounam told FIFA.com post-game at the Estadio Joaquim Americo Guimaraes.

“I think that’s the area we need to improve in. When you consider that a lot of our players were making their World Cup debuts, it’s been a very good day for us.”

Nekounam added: “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy at all and we also knew that we’d lose if we didn’t keep our focus.

“We are happier with the result than they are, but we can’t just settle for what we’ve got.

“We only have one point and we still have two very difficult games ahead of us.”

Iran are back in action against South American powerhouses Argentina on Saturday before facing Bosnia-Herzegovina four days later

17/06/2014

Editorial: How good Team Melli was vs. Nigeria?

There wasn’t much doubt as to what type of football we would be expecting to see from Carlos Queiroz men against Nigeria. It wasn’t much of a spectacle for the avid football fans but Queiroz has to be credited for achieving what he planned in the first place. The coach decided to play a strong defensive game and that game-plan was executed to perfection by his players and it worked. Mission accomplished.

We are still gauging the reaction of the fans, however in the early stages, we can feel the disappointment of many who felt that Nigeria was there for the taking, and Iran did not capitalized on it. With only two offensive players in the entire lineup in Ghoochannejad and Dejagah (substituted by Jahanbakhsh in 78^th minute), the possibilities of rattling the strong Nigerians defenders was not an easy task. Ghoochannejad managed it once only and that was on a corner kick. That is about as much real threat that Iran created on Nigeria throughout the game.

The Nigerians were not the power nor even the threat that were hyped to be, mostly by the English press who are familiar with their players making their living in the Premiere league. While Team Melli was certainly much worse than their average , once the ball left the organized defense line.

While in the middle of the field, Nekounam and Teymourian did a sterling job on defensive duties both operating as holding midfielders, Hajsafy for most of the match was incognito , while Ashkan Dejagah , a key player with so much hope built upon him , played his worst game in a Team Melli shirt.

Under such circumstances, expecting the isolated Ghoochannejad to single handedly wreck the Nigerians was a tall order despite the fact that the Charlton Athletic forward performed quite well and managed to be a menace with his quick turns and accelerations while creating the only real threat heading the ball resulting in a terrific save by Vincent Enyeama.

Route 1 football straight from the defense to the forward line that Iran tried a few times did not work for Team Melli.

Despite the fact that Team Melli under Queioz game plan , achieved what they were hoping for , we need to be realistic and be critical to their overall game. Poor and incomplete passing was the obvious shortfall of the team. While Nigeria was cleverly moving the ball and with confidence, Team Melli could not complete more than a 3 or 4 passes, especially in the first 30 minutes of the game. World Cup phobia was in evidence. And then ‘Hail Mary’ balls, referred to as “Ali Asghari” football in Iran , was also a sign of desperation or panic at times. Some aimless cleared balls towards the Nigerian side hoping that one reaches the lone striker of Team Melli, never paid dividends. Almost all such balls, were intercepted by the Nigerians.

We do have to commend the tight and organized Team Melli defense as the real star of this match. In fact, with players like, Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses, Shola Ameobi and Peter Odemwingie , Nigeria at least on paper , has a real potent strikers force with skills that can turn match results . The excellence of Team Melli back 5 defenders was as such, that the inexperienced Alireza Haghighi was hardly tested. Incidentally , Haghighi in goal is one surprise by Queiroz who is hardly known to take such risks. We may never know why he opted for the Russian club Rubin Kazan keeper, who did not manage a single appearance for his club before transferring to a second division Portuguese club Sporting da Covilhã and finally being able to play 12 competitive matches in two seasons. It will be interesting to hear Queiroz’s thought about Haghighi’s starting role in goal. Chances are that Ahmadi might had cold feet or stage fright and Queiroz have felt it and opted for the younger keeper.

A special mention should also be given to Team Melli aerial supremacy. Hosseini and Sadeghi were controlling the airspace in defense with forceful power of Tomcat F14’s of the Iranian Air force.

Expecting Queiroz to change his game plan and be bolder in the next match against the might of Argentina, is probably not forthcoming. Iran will stick to what they do best and will be out there on June 21^st to frustrate the trio of Messi , Aguero and Higuain. Teymourian and Nekounam defending from deep, while the 5 man Iran defensive system clearing every ball and doubling on Messi and Co. Iran’s only hope of making a difference offensively is still lies upon Ashkan Dejagah shoulders. His form will be the catalyst up front and in offensive moves. If he is contained by the Argentine midfielders, the job of Iran will be that much harder on all fronts. In his good day, we can see him beating the slow Argentine defenders for pace and skill to provide the ammunition for Gucci or score one of his wonder goals.

17/06/201417/06/2014

Iran vs. Nigeria : post match events

[toggle title=”President the football fan” state=”open” ]The President of Iran Hassan Rouhani elected to watch the match at the comfort of home. President Rouhani planned to attend at least one of the matches in Brazil , however , developments in Middle East and the situation in Iraq has probably made those plans unachievable.

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[toggle title=”Players quotes” state=”open” ] Nekounam “If we can win any of the two matches , we would be achieving a great thing. . I thought we played a good game, closed our area well , played according to the coach plans and could have won this one if we were more focused.”

“It is not going to be any easier against Argentina , but we must carry on this strong defensive strategy”

Teymourian ” We carried out whatever the coach dictated upon us. We manage to control the match rhythm , contain the Nigerians who have many European based players and is a good team. In fact , I think we could have won the game.” “We have a heavy duty carrying the aspiration of 75 million Iranians ,

“We should not be under any illusion that Argentina will be a much more difficult opposition. We simply need to try harder and harder.”

Davari ” I am quite happy that we have achieved the result that we were looking for and got our first point in the World Cup. I am also very happy for Alireza Haghighi , he is a young keeper and has done pretty well in the match.”

“Argentina is one of the best teams in the world, We will have a difficult task ahead, but will not go there to admire them. We have to compete against them”

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[toggle title=”Cash Reward” state=”open” ]Every member of Team Melli was awarded US$ 3,000 as a token of appreciation from the football federation after Iran’s goalless draw with Nigeria .[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Iran defence frustrates Chelsea player.” state=”open” ]John Obi Mikel has expressed disappointment at Iran’s game plan and claimed they wanted to frustrate Nigeria after the sides played out a goalless draw in their 2014 World Cup Group F game.

The Chelsea midfielder expressed his unhappiness at the outcome and claimed Iran played for the draw while Nigeria wanted to win. He told a news conference: “We are all disappointed. The first game of every tournament is very important. When you watch the way Iran played, they had 11 men behind the ball the entire game and it was hard for us to create chances. “They sat back and it became difficult. It was a game we wanted to win, but they wanted to play a bit different.”

Hard luck Obi Mikel, but Iran did not park the bus like your team Chelsea did against Atletico Madrid. No apologies from Team Melli for not allowing you to score [/toggle]

[toggle title=”Stephen Keshi reaction” state=”open” ][quote]We wanted to score in the first 20 minutes, but they defended in numbers and we couldn’t get through. When you get that type of situation, you can get wound up because you just want to score, and to do that you need to stay calm. You have to give Iran their due. They decided to play that way and their game-plan worked for them.[/quote][/toggle]

[toggle title=”Carlos Queiroz reaction” state=”open” ]Nigeria’s big names tried to make the difference after the break and to take control of the game. That’s when we stepped our game up a level by doubling up a lot on their players. The fans didn’t see any goals but sometimes intensity, togetherness, focus and team spirit can make for an interesting spectacle.[/toggle]

17/06/2014

Why Iran are a really quite remarkable football nation

metro.co.uk

Most people have never been to Iran, but still believe they have a pretty clear idea of what the country is like.

But what is largely concealed and unknown from the public eye is a country steeped in football tradition and history.

The Princes of Persia are actually one of Asia’s most remarkable and great footballing sides: three time Asian champions, four time West Asian Football Federation champions, home of one of the continent’s most fiercest rivalries – the Surkhabi Derby between Persepolis and Esteghlal, and birthplace to unforgettable legends such as the world’s all time leading goalscorer in international matches Ali Daei.

But can this current generation best their illustrious predecessors by becoming the first side to achieve group stage progression?

Under Carlos Queiroz, a very well-recognised name in football, Iran have become a defensively solid, disciplined and well organised side that is tough to break down conceding only two goals in eight matches in the final qualifying phase leading up to this tournament .

Playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, Team Melli relies on the solidity and tightness of its back-line dependent on ever-present central defensive duo, Amir Hossein Sadeghi and Jalal Hosseini, who are very likely to start.

Both are strong, old-fashioned center backs: powerful in the air, and tough on the ground, who aren’t afraid throw themselves into a challenge or tackle if needed. They’ll be asked to man-mark and stick like glue to their opposing frontmen at all times.

On the other hand, the full-backs and goalkeeper positions remain in question, but will probably be occupied by the young, energetic Mehrdad Pooladi on the left while the right back position will possibly be fought between Khosro Heydari and Steven Beitsahour, and for the goalkeeping spot: a likely toss-up between Rahman Ahmadi and Germany-based Daniel Davari.

The two midfielders ahead of the defense, who will sit tight, will likely be experienced skipper Javad Nekounam and Andranik Teymourian, who had a short stint with Bolton in the Premier League.

Queiroz will think defence first and I can see Iran being difficult to break down, but where will the goals come from?

Iran will look to Fulham’s Ashkan Dejagah as a source of creativity, pace – particularly on the counter – and a goal scoring outlet with his keen eye for goal and very fine left foot. While his likely partner to the right will likely be Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who, like Dejagah, both offer pace which would assist in the team’s counter-attacking endeavors.

In front of him, Charlton’s Reza Goochannejhad will be the likely frontman. Goochannejhad, also known as ‘Gucci’, is another quick, pacey player who boasts fine scoring record of 10 goals in 14 international matches.

Another possible source is the extremely inconsistent and enigmatic, but undeniably talented and creative Masoud Shojaei, who, when in the mood, can be quality and an extra boost for the side attack-wise and likely to play right behind Gucci in the center of the midfield trio.

Despite the odds firmly stacked against them, Iran have proven to be a tough team to break down and with a quality manager like Queiroz on their side, Team Melli shouldn’t be underestimated and should prove to be an awkward opponent even for the likes of Argentina

17/06/2014

Iran vs. Nigeria – Match reports

Iran and Nigeria labored to the first stalemate of a scintillating World Cup on Monday with a dismal 0-0 draw that left both sides still chasing their first victory at a finals since 1998.

While Iran could take some small satisfaction in keeping a clean sheet for the first time since their debut in 1978, the bore at the Baixada arena stood out like a suit salesman on Copacabana beach.

With Lionel Messi’s Argentina, installed as clear Group F favorites, and exciting debutants Bosnia still to come, the other two look destined for an early exit unless they can raise their game considerably.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi warned on Sunday that the African sides were as good as any in Brazil and could win the tournament, but on Monday’s evidence they will not be celebrating.

Keshi said his side dominated but suffered from “nervousness and anxiety” in front of goal.

“We want to score and want to score and it’s not coming. We just have to calm everybody down and take it from there.”

Both teams were whistled and booed off the field by the largely Brazilian crowd of 39,000 after a first half that looked shockingly meager compared to the goal feasts served up elsewhere.

Iran packed their defense as expected and Nigeria, with Emmanuel Emenike rarely posing a threat as the main target man for the African champions, squandered their chances with long balls to nowhere and passes straight to opponents.

The Super Eagles had the ball in the back of the net after seven minutes in a goalmouth scramble but Ecuadorean referee Carlos Vera, perhaps harshly, ruled it out for a push on goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi.

Ogenyi Onazi then drilled a shot wide two minutes later.

Iran came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute when goalkeeper captain Vincent Enyeama produced a fine save to beat out Reza Ghoochannejhad’s header from their first corner of the game.

Nigeria defender Godfrey Oboabona made an early exit from the fray, replaced by former captain Joseph Yobo on the half hour after earlier receiving treatment on the touchline following a heavy tackle.

Next up for Iran is Argentina in Belo Horizonte on Saturday and coach Carlos Queiroz said: “The most important thing is that everything is open for us.”