It's been a long, long time -- and time for a new analysis.
This World Cup had lots of positives and lots of question marks. Positives first:
There's been a clear positive trend since 2014, and even though I'm not a fan of GN at least for once we figured out how to attack, even though it was too little too late in every game. I hope we stick to getting more Iranian coaches, even though the good ones refuse to coach the team because of all the nonsense around the team and all the issues. In particular, I was reminded a lot of Nigeria and Bosnia in 2014, and the USA in 2022. We didn't know how to attack for the longest time, but we're finally starting to learn. I hope that we properly introduce a new set of players and integrate them into the team, in a way that gets the current players to pass their experience to the next generation. I'm sure having Rahman Rezaei and Ando in the coaching squad helped, and I hope we continue this trend properly.
Admittedly I'm bitter about Jahanbakhsh's antics during and after 2022, but some of them seem really out of touch with the day to day lives of people in Iran. I'm happy they behaved a bit better this time, whether they allowed them to or the players matured a bit.
This World Cup had lots of positives and lots of question marks. Positives first:
- We finally have a big time player. Ramin Rezaeian showed up in every match, both in the last WC and in this one. Always shows up for all the big games. I'm extremely impressed.
- A bit late, but Saman finally impressed for TM. I only found out recently he's had 70 games for TM. Where did the time go?
- Players finally, finally, either learnt their lesson or were told to say things like "we're here to make all Iranians happy despite which flag or ideology they support." What a blessing after the disaster class they put up last time around.
- Beiranvand's antics, despite making me panic quite a few times cause he was so calm on the ball, helped us a ton. Incredible saves.
- The players who've played multiple world cups clearly showed their experience. For once, we benefited from this.
- Our low blocks were executed well. When we did play in the final third, we were fantastic in the final third. Unfortunately we didn't make it to the final third that often.
- I'm convinced we could've beaten Switzerland had we advanced, we've gotten great at defending, even though we really panic in the first 10 minutes of the game and can't get our head into it.
- It was entirely on us. We could've advanced easily.
- No Sayyadmanesh, Hosseinnejad, Taheri, Azmoun ... though I don't care for Azmoun but w/e. We could've really brought a bench that could've gained from the experience.
- IFF and IRI antics aside, on a technical level we are clearly lacking, and that too is all on us. I'm suprisingly glad we took an Iranian coach to WC, I hope we continue that trend.
- Our players still can't string together more than two passes, they panic way too quickly, and are not used to being pressed. We still overly rely on individual talent instead of team play. We defend as a team, attack as individuals.
- Our team is definitely aged out. I'm not sure what the value is of taking this team to AC. We need to plan for once but ... who knows.
- Despite their age a lot of our players lack good football experience. You can kinda tell that half the team hasn't had a professional football education, or don't play in teams where tactics and individual development are important. It's a shame.
- Any notion of any kind of long term planning. No surprises there.
- FIFA's corruption and politics are a disaster. No lion and sun flag is a sham, and none of the cameras showed any of the fans. Psychotic to the core. On the other side of the same thing, what's the deal with punishing the players. If you let them into the tournament, at least let them play normally, make sure they get normal visas.
There's been a clear positive trend since 2014, and even though I'm not a fan of GN at least for once we figured out how to attack, even though it was too little too late in every game. I hope we stick to getting more Iranian coaches, even though the good ones refuse to coach the team because of all the nonsense around the team and all the issues. In particular, I was reminded a lot of Nigeria and Bosnia in 2014, and the USA in 2022. We didn't know how to attack for the longest time, but we're finally starting to learn. I hope that we properly introduce a new set of players and integrate them into the team, in a way that gets the current players to pass their experience to the next generation. I'm sure having Rahman Rezaei and Ando in the coaching squad helped, and I hope we continue this trend properly.
Admittedly I'm bitter about Jahanbakhsh's antics during and after 2022, but some of them seem really out of touch with the day to day lives of people in Iran. I'm happy they behaved a bit better this time, whether they allowed them to or the players matured a bit.
