Tag: North Korea

Doomsday scenario of Iran’s football is greatly exaggerated.

A single loss against Japan by Team Melli does not mean the death bell tolls for Iran’s football and certainly a Doomsday scenario for Iran’s football is greatly exaggerated.

In one match, anything can happen. Astonishing, unbelievable and implausible results can occur any place in football world. Germany’s defeat of mighty Hungary in World Cup 1954, North Korea defeating Italy in 1966, Germany’s humiliating 7-1 defeat of Brazil in 2014 plus many more has occurred through the years.

Team Melli’s performance in AFC Asian Cup was good and way above average. The player’s played to the best of their abilities, they went out to win matches and play as good as they can by executing their coaches instructions. They won 5 out of 6 without conceding before meeting Japan in the semi.

Japan was far from convincing and very different form the team of the FIFA World Cup 2018.  Far from an invincible team that terrorized its opponents in the competition. On the day however, poor refereeing decision, lapse of concentration, tactical errors, inability to adapt, coaching errors and loss of temper by key players resulted in a disappointing and unexpected loss.  In the opinion of most critics, Japan was never three goals better that Iran in that match.

So, Team Melli and the coaching team have to be commended on the performance and their hard work that took Iran to the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2019. The hope was to lift the cup but it was not to be and it was heart breaking for millions of fans. However, that should never undermine the hard work of the team. Fans have to continue their support.

Queiroz is history; a new coach will take over. Undoubtedly it will be a breath of fresh air after what was a tense and apprehensive period under a constantly combative and belligerent Queiroz. A new coach must offer calm  surroundings.

Stability, mental strength and focus on football are very important for the success of any team at this level of football. The new coach has a great role in deflecting political or other influences from his players by ensuring they (players) are not involved in his fights be it contractual or other matters.

Improvement of facilities standards & availabilities, logistical and financial support, training grounds and long-term fixture arrangements for Team Melli’s new coach, will be hardly anything better than what it has been provided for Queiroz. Let us be realistic. There is no light at the end of the tunnel out there.

The same conditions will prevail. The new coach has to adjust to it rather than demand facilities afforded by rich Persian Gulf countries such as Qatar as a conditions for success. There has to be adjustments and improvements but not everything successful is about more money either.

Team Melli players need to work much harder to be counted. Sardar Azmoun, Jahanbaksh, Saman Ghoddos and all the other legionnaires have to improve on many fronts else they will be out of favor with their clubs.  Europeans have no time or mercy for poor performers. Professional football is a vicious environment and very demanding.

Iran will go on introduce local talents. There are a plenty around. The perennial poor football management of the country has failed to nourish many of them but even those who filter through can proudly represent Team Melli.

Carlos Queiroz looks for ‘miracle’ as Iran target World Cup return

 

Carlos Queiroz never seems to age, with only a lengthening CV providing proof of passing time.

It makes for impressive reading, but the 62-year-old still wants to do more. “I am attracted to the idea of taking four different national teams to a World Cup because only one or two guys have done that and it would be nice for my coaching career,” Mozambique-born Queiroz told ESPN FC.

It would be quite a feat, but at the moment the Portuguese coach is focusing on taking Iran — his third national team after South Africa and Portugal — to a second successive World Cup in Russia 2018.

The feat is harder than many people realise it to be, Queiroz argues. Though there are four automatic World Cup berths for Asia, the reality is a little different.

“In Asia, three nations have a credit card for the World Cup — Australia, South Korea and Japan,” he says with just a hint of a smile and a what-can-you-do shrug of the shoulders.

“That leaves just one place for Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Uzbekistan, China and North Korea. That is seven

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz is preparing to guide Team Melli to their second straight WC ahead of Thursday’s qualifier vs. Guam.

nations and almost of all these have great conditions, facilities and financial resources.”

Iran — who were under international sanctions for eight years — have been at a disadvantage, according to Queiroz. There have been struggles to gain access to funds due from FIFA and the AFC and the consequential inability to pay for training camps and facilities. Years of cancelled friendlies also took a toll.

For Queiroz, it is becoming more difficult for Iran to compete with rivals with better financial resources. “There is real passion for the game in Iran, you don’t have to ignite it,” he said.

“With passion, players and desire, you have a big chance. But how many times can you work a miracle?

“Money talks everywhere, and we need resources to create a foundation. We need experience but how are you going to gain it if you don’t have friendly games, if you don’t have nations to play? This is a cat and mouse game and is very difficult to deal with.”

Carlos Queiroz hailed Iran’s spirited performance against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in last year’s World Cup.

The sanctions were lifted in July but the former Real Madrid coach is unconvinced that things will change anytime soon.

It was against such a backdrop that Iran made it to the 2014 World Cup, clinching a spot on a warm June night at the Ulsan World Cup Stadium.

Team Melli’s celebration upset the South Korean hosts, who felt it was over the top and aggressive. But according to Queiroz, who was formerly an assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manshester United, it was emotion released after a long and testing campaign.

It was not the end of stress, however. “Our preparation for the World Cup was not playing national teams but a couple of first division teams from South Africa. We are grateful, don’t get me wrong, those friends were fantastic for us but it was not enough.

“We need more experience, more players who are mature to play a World Cup. We want to be there with a chance to compete and win and in the World Cup we can only do that if we have quality players and experience.”

Even so, the memories of Brazil are still warm. “The performance was great. The players and the team got a lot of respect. They brought pride to the nation, there is no doubt about that,” said Queiroz.

Especially against Argentina when Iran only lost 1-0 due to a piece of Lionel Messi magic in the 91st minute and could have won, had the referee given what seemed to be a pretty clear penalty when Pablo Zabaleta had fouled Ashkan Dejagah in the area 10 minutes into the second half.

“I was sure that they would not be able to score, but when you have God on the pitch, sometimes you can make miracles,” said Queiroz.

“I cracked the joke then that Argentina had everything on their side. They had Messi who played for them — Messi could have been born Iranian, but God made him to be born in Argentina.

“Then they also had the referee who was a little bit distracted when he didn’t give us that penalty, that scandalous penalty. Sure, if we had scored then, it could have inspired Argentina to come back — you never know in football. But those two combinations were difficult to deal with.

“We fought hard at the World Cup. It was OK. It was 50 percent of what I wanted.”

Queiroz coached Iran to a quarterfinal appearance in the Asian Cup in January but lost the thriller against neighbours Iraq.

It comes back to Russia 2018. Iran are strong favourites to top Group D and move into the final round of qualification despite a disappointing start with a 1-1 draw in Turkmenistan in June.

“More than 50 percent of the team are young and it is a new team,” Queiroz said. “I expected a little more from them. In fact, the game got a bit complicated for us after we had scored. There are no excuses though. The pitch was OK for both teams, the weather was very hot.

We need to praise Turkmenistan — they fought for the result and we lacked the experience to control the game and get the three points. But we are still in a good position to move to the next round.”

On Thursday, Guam come to Tehran. The island with a population of 170,000 were genuine minnows until recently. Now the Matao are top of the group with six points from games at home to Turkmenistan and India and have climbed the rankings to 146.

Queiroz is wary of the team who are confident, ambitious and with nothing to lose. He is respectful of the job English coach Gary White has done. “They are doing well. They have a lot of players with experience in the United States leagues,” said Queiroz.

“I am not surprised, because I have been there and found the Guam players to have this competitive nature and sport education which are the foundations of American sports. The coach is doing well because I saw videos and the team is very well organised with good discipline and it is going to be difficult.”

For Carlos Queiroz, life as Iran coach is never easy and you sense that he quite likes it that way. “That is why we are coaches, born to suffer in life. We will do our best and that is all we can do.”

John Duerden is ESPN’s Asia football correspondent who also works for BBC Radio, The Guardian and World Soccer. Twitter: @JohnnyDuerden

Sharifi “The Koreans were much stronger than us”

Haidar Sharifi , the head coach of Iran’s U-14 team currently participating in the AFC U14 Championship 2014 in Hamadan and, admitted that the “North Korean teams was stronger than us and whatever we tried , we could not shake them.”

North Korea defeated Iran U14 yesterday by one goal to nil in Haj Babaei Stadium. The goal scored from just inside the Korean half, about 50 meters out , was worthy of winning any match in style. The powerful free kick flew into the upper net from long-range.   Goals like this is hardly seen at this level of football, however , the Korean superiority was evident all around and they could have easily scored a few more on Iran U14. While the Koreans played a modern type of total football and nice exchanges, Iranian players , as usual , depended on their individual skill that failed them against a well-organized and very fit Koreans.  There is little doubt that the Koreans will be the major contender for the title as they have swept past the teams in the qualification with an astonishing ease.

“We are considering this defeat as a lesson learnt and hope that shortfalls are covered in the next vital match.” Sharif added.

Iran will meet Saudi Arabia on Friday and must win the match in order to qualify as the second of the group. The Saudi’s are without any points after losing the first against North Korea 2-0 and then surprisingly against Timor Leste 2-1 yesterday. Provided Korea defeats Timor Leste, Iran will qualify without having to defeat Saudi Arabia. Both matches will be played at the same time.

 

 

Superior North Koreans anrrowly defeat Iran U14

Hamedan: Captain Kim Pom-hyok scored second goal in as many matches of the AFC U-14 Championship as DPR Korea edged hosts Iran 1-0 in a Group A encounter on Wednesday.

 In the match played in front of strong host nation’s supporters, Kim slotted home a 25-yard freekick which decided the fate of the match.

With the win DPR Korea are almost certain of making it into the semi-final with six points from two matches. Iran, who had defeated Saudi Arabia in their first match, are still occupying the second position despite suffering defeat as they had defeated Timor-Leste who earlier stunned Saudi Arabia.

“After analysing the matches so far, I still believe that Iran are strong will make it through alongside us from Group A,” said DPR Korea coach Kim Chol-jin after the match.

“I thought it would be very difficult for us to beat the hosts but at the end of the day, we were clinical and our defenders did not give them chances so I was relaxed and did not have to make numerous changes during the match.

“Those boys who were not used will be fresh in upcoming matches,” he added.

Like the previous match against Saudi Arabia, DPR Korea relied on long balls and pile drivers and one of those from captain Kim reached the destination.

After DPR were awarded with a freekick, the dead-ball specialist took the charges and left the diving Iran goalie Meraj Esmaeili hapless as early as in the eighth minute.

Iran coach Heidar Sharifi was quick to defend his goalkeeper who, with the proper judgement, could have saved the ball.

“He was outstanding today,” said Heidar.

“There are mistakes even at the top level, you have to remember some brilliant saves he made today.

“We are not done yet, we have a match in hand and I am sure we will defeat Saudi Arabia and progress.

“In fact, I’m taking this defeat as a blessing in disguise as the young boys knew that how difficult it is to lose a match, we will rebound,” he stressed.