TMDC - With the brilliant goal scored by Javad Kazemian against Paykan in Thursday’s IPL match, Branko Ivankovic must be ecstatic about the number of perfect free kick shooters at his disposal in Team Melli.

After witnessing Iman Mobali crack some remarkable Free kick goals this season , and with Khodadad Azizi well known for his stunning accurate Free kicks , Farhad Majidi , Ali Karimi and Ali Daei all good free kick shooters , it is high time for Branko to think of strategy to utilize the skills of these players. There certainly is no shortage of talents when it comes to free kick shooters in Team Melli. The question is how to effectively use them.

Free kicks, after penalties, are one of the most resourceful goal scoring situations. But hitting accurate free kicks requires certain level of skills and accuracy. The best free kick takers in the World are the ones who delicately deal with the ball without the need to restore to brute force. Placement of the ball in relation of the keeper position and the defensive wall is perhaps all it takes for a player to score.
Star free kickers such as France and Arsenal’s Thierry Henry continuously practice free kicks and the consistency of practicing is making him such a lethal free kick shooter.

The simple and most straight-forward strategy is for Team Melli to get as many fouls around the box as they can. There is the one and only Karimi who can use his exceptional dribbling skills to draw a few fouls and for the Kazemi/Mobali or Azizi to complete the job.

However, as simple as this strategy seems to be, it will definitely should not be obviously advertised nor practiced. Modern defenders are much more skillful in dealing with dribblers in Ali Karimi’s class. Such defensive system allows for double-teaming the dribbler and pressing hard against him physically. The frustration of not being able to penetrate the defense is one of the methods that limit the effectiveness of the dribblers. If this strategy is to be practiced, both the dribbler and the free kicker must have a cool heads and deal with situations with no emotion only professionalism and skill.

Referees are always looking closely at play acting or diving in the box to claim penalties or outside of the box for drawing fouls. Diving in the box is not only a risky plot which results in a yellow card for the offending forward, it is also becoming increasingly an undignified act that draws cries of cheating by the fans and the media.

So, although this strategy should be certainly used and Karimi should draw fouls, preferably from the front rather than the sides, the team should not be daunted if it does not bear results in a match or two. Mobali , Kazemian and co must be given the opportunity to hit free kicks near the box as scoring from such situation, will tremendously increase their confidence and benefit the team in the process.

A lethal combination of Karimi and Kazemian/Mobali can certainly be a winner.