What should Iran's footballing identity be?

[Nokhodi]

Care to provide the stats? Based on my persopnal observation i don't believe we are near top 3rd teams.
Happy to be proven wrong.

Here it is in graphical form. Iran is 10th in height at this World Cup.
I haven't embedded as the graph is too big for the forum parameters:

https://i.redd.it/xtzturca8f0a1.png

https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/yxdpub/oc_2022_world_cup_teams_by_average_height_and/

World Cup 2018 we were in the top 10 as well:

QbKkPyF.png

[koorosh]

disgree strongly. In terms of height, weight, strength… our teams in the past world cups have been in the top 3rd of teams consistently.

we also run an incredible amount now. We just don’t run smart! go look at the stats - I couldn’t believe the distances.
Also believe it or not, our players top speeds for the most part are above average (except for guys like Ezatollahi).

again, what makes our football look slow and lethargic is what comes from most our players having been taught to play in tactics that were appropriate for 1994! Static, flat footed, lots of time with cramped midfields.

our players have speed, our football doesn’t.
Blaming it on physical shortcomings, respectfully is wrong and irrelevant.

Nokhodi Jaan, I'd like to see your stats as well.

Iran was not in the top half in terms of team distance (https://www.ft.com/content/a7c29bcc-...e-b3232db83e5a)

[Ali.Karimi79]

Here it is in graphical form. Iran is 10th in height at this World Cup.
I haven't embedded as the graph is too big for the forum parameters:
...

Thanks for the charts Nokhodi Jan but i meant in terms of strenght, speed and stamina.
Height and Weight means nothing tbh.

[Nokhodi]

Thanks for the charts Nokhodi Jan but i meant in terms of strenght, speed and stamina.
Height and Weight means nothing tbh.

Ak jan, you had mentioned player height specifically, so I went and found those stats.

Regarding strength and stamina - I don't think they even cover those stats, and I'm not sure how they would collect/compare for all the players.

I'm looking for the running distance/speed stats right now. Will share with all.

[Nokhodi]

Thanks for the charts Nokhodi Jan but i meant in terms of strenght, speed and stamina.
Height and Weight means nothing tbh.

I saw cumulative running stats, and we were pretty good, unfortunately I can't find the tabulated version and it would take me days to compile all the individual match data.

As an interesting side note, the team that was pretty much number one on all the running stats (distance, speeds) was the US. They outran their opponents cumulatively by at least a few kms every game. Even against England.

Since I couldn't find the combine stats, I will share the stats from each game for you that Iran played in terms of running:
England - Iran
Total Distance Covered
119.2 km ENG
121.5 km IRN
High Speed Distance Covered
15.6 km ENG
16.2 km IRN

Iran - Wales
Total Distance Covered
116.8 km IRN
111.9 km WAL
High Speed Distance Covered
14.8 km IRN
15.7 km WAL


Iran - USA
Total Distance Covered
120.5 km IRN
126 km USA
High Speed Distance Covered
15.8 km IRN
19.5 km USA


I glanced through the game stats for some other matches, and the only teams that were running more and faster than us were teams like the US, Australia and France!

Even South Korea, Netherlands, Senegal, Argentina, Saudi, Poland... all them were slower and ran less.

Looking at the numbers alone is not a great indicator of everything - for example Argentina is always near the bottom of the running and speed stats, but they do well.

What matters is you play the right style.

CQ wanted to play a style where we just run, but he didn't select the right players, because at the transition points we are generally too slow. At those points we need to play a more technical style, but CQ is too rigid.

In short, Iran's issue really isn't running or even physical. It's about choosing the wrong system versus the wrong opponents. Trying to win the running game versus a team like the US is suicide.

[milad_b]

IFF Incompetence - Bazi Kon Salari - Failure - Never learn from mistakes

Everytime we have good team and have chance to do something big in wc some how someone f*ks it up.! In 2006 we had a great team but failed badly as players weren't united. ali karimi caused lots of trouble.

This year we also had a great team and had the potential to qualify to next round but players like Taremi , ansarifard (buthurt that he wasn't invited), jahanbakhsh and hajsafi messed it up for us. CQ was a mistake and if you don't agree with this then you're simply in denial!

[koorosh]

Yes the players were guilty of destabilizing the coach. Not sure if Skocic would have done any better, given the political situation and distractions. And most of our stars were doing quite poorly this year so our chances were rapidly dwindling...



Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

[Prowess]

I saw cumulative running stats, and we were pretty good, unfortunately I can't find the tabulated version and it would take me days to compile all the individual match data.

As an interesting side note, the team that was pretty much number one on all the running stats (distance, speeds) was the US. They outran their opponents cumulatively by at least a few kms every game. Even against England.

Since I couldn't find the combine stats, I will share the stats from each game for you that Iran played in terms of running:
England - Iran
Total Distance Covered
119.2 km ENG
121.5 km IRN
High Speed Distance Covered
15.6 km ENG
16.2 km IRN

Iran - Wales
Total Distance Covered
116.8 km IRN
111.9 km WAL
High Speed Distance Covered
14.8 km IRN
15.7 km WAL


Iran - USA
Total Distance Covered
120.5 km IRN
126 km USA
High Speed Distance Covered
15.8 km IRN
19.5 km USA


I glanced through the game stats for some other matches, and the only teams that were running more and faster than us were teams like the US, Australia and France!

Even South Korea, Netherlands, Senegal, Argentina, Saudi, Poland... all them were slower and ran less.

Looking at the numbers alone is not a great indicator of everything - for example Argentina is always near the bottom of the running and speed stats, but they do well.

What matters is you play the right style.

CQ wanted to play a style where we just run, but he didn't select the right players, because at the transition points we are generally too slow. At those points we need to play a more technical style, but CQ is too rigid.

In short, Iran's issue really isn't running or even physical. It's about choosing the wrong system versus the wrong opponents. Trying to win the running game versus a team like the US is suicide.

Good post. And Argentina is in the final. It’s moreso pace of ball movement vs player pace that’s important.

Even ball movement doesn’t always have to be fast, just in certain phases of the game.

There’s a reason why our futsal is a lot better than our football team. We’re not used to playing in a bigger space, which requires a different skillset.

But I think we should model our game after Brazil (although obviously a much more watered down version). Free spirited with flair but with good decision-making.

It’d be cool if we had a Brazilian soccer academy in Iran…

[Ali.Karimi79]

..
In short, Iran's issue really isn't running or even physical. It's about choosing the wrong system versus the wrong opponents. Trying to win the running game versus a team like the US is suicide.

Thank you for your effort Nokhodi jan. Damet garm. Maybe i am just too harsh on our players because i desperately want them to succeed. I could swear that they are nowhere near the rest of the teams but you proved me wrong.
The quoted part is the best summary tbh. Nokhodi for TM coach

[PSGman#19]

Speed speed speed.

If we keep on insisting with our slow turtle style, we deserve nothing

[Ali.Karimi79]

Speed speed speed.

If we keep on insisting with our slow turtle style, we deserve nothing

Agree. Add pass accuracy, quick decisions and freekicks/corners to the list.
In summary: We need to catch up with the rest of the world.

[teammelli91]

Iran’s footballing identity should be not islamic.

And looking at how brave and courageous our people have been and continue to do so, it doesn’t look like it will stay islamic for long in 2023.

The end is near for i.r. There’s no stopping this revolution.

[Karimi 8]

You should build your identify based on the players you have, not come with an identity / idea, and try to force it on the players.