Tag: Choi Kang-Hee

Queiroz secret plans leaves Stielike guessing!

Uli Stielike must be scratching his head wondering which team will his counterpart Carlos Queiroz will arrange in Azadi comes Tuesday. The Portuguese coach played 3 different line ups against Qatar, China and Uzbekistan leaving the German coach wondering which game plan he shall deploy.

Queiroz last line up against Uzbekistan must have alarmed quite a few and was bordering high risk for some critics. No one bench 3 of his top players while playing against the top of the table team in away match in a World Cup qualifier! Queiroz, however, did exactly that and to put the icing on the cake, his players won and to make it taste even sweeter, they played one of their finest football in years.

For over 20 minutes in Tashkent, Team Melli was pressing the host, Uzbekistan on the other hand were running out of ideas and short of confidence. The only span of time that the host managed to threaten, but not effectively, was the early minutes of the second half.  After that, Iran regained control, Queiroz masterplan worked like a charm and his players executed it to perfection grabbing all 3 points with this sweet victory away from home.

Whatever the reasons for the constant changing line up by Queiroz (quite uncharacteristic for the ex-Real Madrid and Portugal coach) the man knew exactly what he was doing and that is confirmed by the fact that Iran is heading the table ahead of the other 5 teams.

Queiroz is no stranger to the Koreans battles and thrives in beating the record holders of most Asian team appearances in the World Cup. In the last edition of the qualification, it was that egotistical unwitting South Korean coach Choi Kang-hee who vowed that Carlos Queiroz will have to watch next year’s World Cup in Brazil on television.

The two coaches have traded verbal volleys in the lead-up to that decisive clash in Ulsan and at the end , Choi Kang-hee was the one who ended up watching World Cup on a Samsung TV while Queiroz and the boys was battling it out against the likes of the great Lionel Messi in Brazil.

There is no such animosity between Stielike and Queiroz who have strong mutual respect for each other, however, that does not dilute the intensity of the match in any way.  Stielike must be unsettled trying to figure out what Queiroz is up to tactically. Queiroz putting a lot of thoughts on how to take advantage of the Korean defensive vulnerability, which has conceded 4 goals in 3 matches.

Team Melli is a good shape to grab all the 3 points and looks like the favorite ahead of the World Cup qualifying showpiece event in Azadi. The passionate Iranian fans in the eve of Ashoora could make a big difference too.

 

 

Team Melli to meet Korea Rep. in Friendly on November 18th.


As part of the two teams preparation for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, Iran will be hosting Korea Rep in Azadi on November 18th, 2014.

The news was confirmed by a Korean source, however no conformation from the Iranian side has been reported although Kaffashian mentioned some times ago the possibility of a friendly against Korea if Queiroz gives his approval.

Both the teams played in the FIFA World Cup 2014 as Asian representatives and both ending their campaign with  disappointing results, as they were eliminated after finishing the bottom of their respective groups. However , the similarities and the differences in mentality and approach top progress ends there between the two nations.

South Korea is currently without a coach as  Hong Myung-Bo resigned nearly three weeks ago ( July 10th) after the former star player apologized for the team’s poor performance and took full responsibility for it at the World Cup in Brazil. Hong has faced mounting criticism after South Korea were eliminated from the World Cup by finishing last in the four-team Group H.

South Korea were defeated 1-0 by Belgium, 4-2 by Algeria and drew 1-1 with Russia.
No such problem for Iran , of course ,  as a similar result to the Koreans in the World Cup (2 defeats and a draw, last in the group with 1 solitary goal while Korea scored 3 goals) , had exactly the opposite effect on the Iranians. That mediocre result elevated the stature of their coach to even a higher degree of admiration and respect than before. Such admiration for his work is reflected in the new contract, which is the highest ever paid by an Iranian football federation for a coach in the history.

Queiroz giving the Korean coach a piece of his mind.


There is no love lost between the Koreans and Queiroz. The last time these two teams met in Ulsan , Ghoochannejad scored the only goal to assure Iran a direct qualification to the World Cup , while the Koreans waited nervously for the news of the match in Tashkent where Uzbekistan was defeating Qatar 5-1. One goal short of making it , Uzbekistan missed out again while the Koreans qualified. After the match was finished , Queiroz went towards the Korean bench and hell nearly broke loose when the Portuguese coach taunted his counterpart Choi Kang-Hee.


The tension between the two teams started at the coaches level well before kick off as the South Korean coach Choi Kang-Hee  vowed that Queiroz would be watching the World Cup from his home in Portugal. Son Heung-Min, , the South Korean’s player  promised to “make life painful” for Iran and to force their captain to cry “tears of blood”.


The Korean fans pelted Queiroz with objects and there were calls to file a complaint against Iran head coach  to FIFA accusing Queiroz of provocation and intimidation. The Korean FA refused to pursue the matter any further , preferring to maintain the cordial relation it has with Iran lasting many decades.
At the end , it was the Korean coach Choi Kang-Hee, who sat home watching the World Cup on his Samsung TV as he resigned his post following the criticism from the Korean media and fans who always demand success and high standards.