Iran finally books its ticket to the final round of World Cup Qualifiers with their historic win over Bahrain by a whopping scoreline of 6-0. That put a massive wrench in the business of Bahrain in their quest to qualify for the final round. And Team Melli cemented their qualification with a 4-1 away win in Indonesia.
But we still one game against the Qatari team that got away from us and escaped with a draw, no thanks to numerous misses by our forwards, especially the young Ansarifard.
Below are my observations from our last group game in Tehran facing a desperate Qatar.
But we still one game against the Qatari team that got away from us and escaped with a draw, no thanks to numerous misses by our forwards, especially the young Ansarifard.
Below are my observations from our last group game in Tehran facing a desperate Qatar.
FIRST HALF -
Good pace from the team and I liked how they pressed high and hard in the beginning of the game and they were awarded for their press with the great goal from Dejagah. Some really nice and slick passing that was sorely missing against Jordan.
I liked how Dejagah settled in so quickly and so well to combine with Heidari and Karimi on the right side. Shows his high intelligence. For someone who hasn’t really watched his games until today I must admit he used his physicality pretty well and controlled the ball very well. I think he is a very good addition to our TM, his debut goal notwithstanding.
Speaking of intelligence let me make a note on its shortage in our goal keeper, Rahmati. Once again his exit that led to the penalty showed he doesn’t really use all his faculties up there, while the Qatari player was going AWAY from the goal and had no place to go to! He could have merely formed a block to the player while the ball was speeding out. Somebody ought to work with him and somehow teach him to play a more intelligent football.
So far, in the first half, Karimi except a few nice tricks and dribbles has unfortunately been one of our weakest players …. surprisingly since he had a great game against Jordan. I hope he gets it together as he plays in a very important spot, right behind the center forward and in charge of playmaking. So this amount of turnover is alarming.
I expect the team to step it up and finish the job as we get close to minutes 75 or so.
SECOND HALF –
Wow. Pouladi’s crosses have been magnificent throughout.
I don’t care what you read on the score board. I’m going to call it 3-2 just because of Nekounam’s cruise missile that hit the bar. Somebody check the goal post. There must be a massive dent on it now.
Absolutely delicious freekick by Dejagah who hasn’t wasted time to endear himself to the Iranian fans.
Khalatbari’s subbing was a bit of question mark for me. He was a live wire and doing great putting pressure on the Qatari right back, keeping him at bay. I thought a more straight forward exchange would have been Nouri for Karimi who wasn’t doing much and had a weak first half. I really want to know why Khalatbari and not Karimi. Does it have anything to do with seniority? Should that be a factor?
And because Karimi was weak, poor Ghazi was not fed properly and was reduced to merely running after loose balls, trying to make something out of them! So I really doubt our softie, Ansarifard’s soft, gentle touches are going to make much of a difference. I’d say Ghazi is far more useful for the team than Ansarifard who hardly participates in defense like ghazi, and has a very weak physical game (which fits his soft, gentle touches of the ball).
Qatar’s second goal. Once again we revisit Nekounam’s old weakness which is not marking/tailing his man. He takes a couple of steps in and surprisingly STOPS … allowing the Qatari attacker to head in with absolutely no hinderance! Well, what the hell? How many times are we going to see this from one of the most experienced players in the team?
I really hope our laxity in dealing with Qatar and putting them away doesn’t come around and bite our arses in the next round. Given their hosting of the WC and AFC/FIFA needing them to at least qualify on their own merit at least once, which means AFC will do everything possible to see them through. Which means a mountain of trouble for whoever that’s in their group!
Good pace from the team and I liked how they pressed high and hard in the beginning of the game and they were awarded for their press with the great goal from Dejagah. Some really nice and slick passing that was sorely missing against Jordan.
I liked how Dejagah settled in so quickly and so well to combine with Heidari and Karimi on the right side. Shows his high intelligence. For someone who hasn’t really watched his games until today I must admit he used his physicality pretty well and controlled the ball very well. I think he is a very good addition to our TM, his debut goal notwithstanding.
Speaking of intelligence let me make a note on its shortage in our goal keeper, Rahmati. Once again his exit that led to the penalty showed he doesn’t really use all his faculties up there, while the Qatari player was going AWAY from the goal and had no place to go to! He could have merely formed a block to the player while the ball was speeding out. Somebody ought to work with him and somehow teach him to play a more intelligent football.
So far, in the first half, Karimi except a few nice tricks and dribbles has unfortunately been one of our weakest players …. surprisingly since he had a great game against Jordan. I hope he gets it together as he plays in a very important spot, right behind the center forward and in charge of playmaking. So this amount of turnover is alarming.
I expect the team to step it up and finish the job as we get close to minutes 75 or so.
SECOND HALF –
Wow. Pouladi’s crosses have been magnificent throughout.
I don’t care what you read on the score board. I’m going to call it 3-2 just because of Nekounam’s cruise missile that hit the bar. Somebody check the goal post. There must be a massive dent on it now.
Absolutely delicious freekick by Dejagah who hasn’t wasted time to endear himself to the Iranian fans.
Khalatbari’s subbing was a bit of question mark for me. He was a live wire and doing great putting pressure on the Qatari right back, keeping him at bay. I thought a more straight forward exchange would have been Nouri for Karimi who wasn’t doing much and had a weak first half. I really want to know why Khalatbari and not Karimi. Does it have anything to do with seniority? Should that be a factor?
And because Karimi was weak, poor Ghazi was not fed properly and was reduced to merely running after loose balls, trying to make something out of them! So I really doubt our softie, Ansarifard’s soft, gentle touches are going to make much of a difference. I’d say Ghazi is far more useful for the team than Ansarifard who hardly participates in defense like ghazi, and has a very weak physical game (which fits his soft, gentle touches of the ball).
Qatar’s second goal. Once again we revisit Nekounam’s old weakness which is not marking/tailing his man. He takes a couple of steps in and surprisingly STOPS … allowing the Qatari attacker to head in with absolutely no hinderance! Well, what the hell? How many times are we going to see this from one of the most experienced players in the team?
I really hope our laxity in dealing with Qatar and putting them away doesn’t come around and bite our arses in the next round. Given their hosting of the WC and AFC/FIFA needing them to at least qualify on their own merit at least once, which means AFC will do everything possible to see them through. Which means a mountain of trouble for whoever that’s in their group!
