Iran vs. Qatar - [Match Thread] | Asian Cup 2023 | Wednesday, February 7th |

[perspolis#1]

I have not been able to comment until now as this loss impacted me just as much as 2004, and 2015 (2019 was fine as I think Japan were far better). A few points:

* I have been saying for a very long time that Shoja is a horrible defender. I remember a coach of mine saying that Centre Backs who make a lot of last second tackles to prevent dangerous situations are actually weaker players with poor positioning. They occasionally look good because of their last ditch interventions, but in reality it is their poor positioning and play which has led to them having to do something desperate. Of course, there are exceptions, but this is exactly what I think of Shoja. Even in the Japan game, he lost their striker who should have scored with an easy header (then blamed Mohammadi!). It’s time we moved on from such a weak defender. The UAE game in the last WCQ, where he was sent off but saved by VAR, showed you everything. He is a total liability.
* The tactics for this game were so, so wrong. We needed a ground game with technical players. GN bringing on Moghanlou and Asadi made me physically ill, it reminded me of the Enayati and Khatibi days. GN does this to justify his own career, as he keeps trying to show the PGPL as a strong league to bring credit to his coaching. Two technically weak players who need multiple chances for a single goal. Just horrible.
* I have no faith in GN bringing youth to this team, and encouraging that youth to go to Europe. We are going to be stuck with a bunch of average PGPL players in their late 20s, who score scrappy goals against Khoone be Khoone. This team will struggle to make WC 2026.

Excellent points. Defender positioning is more important than slide tackles. It is not as glamorous but speaks to how good a defender is. Jalal Hosseini was our best defender in Iran for a decade because of this. Otherwise you need to be a physical beast ( Zouma, Rudiger, Ramos etc) to set it right.

What's missing in TM forever are actual play patterns to repetitively make chances.

Even the most creative teams in the world like Man City or 2011 Barcelona do/did a lot of the same passing patterns. I usually can predict what the next pass is in European football but cant half the time when I watch Iranian teams play.

We will struggle but ultimately the expanded competition and league style format suits us in World cup qualifying.

No faith in a team turnover.

[momad2468]

I have not been able to comment until now as this loss impacted me just as much as 2004, and 2015 (2019 was fine as I think Japan were far better). A few points:

* I have been saying for a very long time that Shoja is a horrible defender. I remember a coach of mine saying that Centre Backs who make a lot of last second tackles to prevent dangerous situations are actually weaker players with poor positioning. They occasionally look good because of their last ditch interventions, but in reality it is their poor positioning and play which has led to them having to do something desperate. Of course, there are exceptions, but this is exactly what I think of Shoja. Even in the Japan game, he lost their striker who should have scored with an easy header (then blamed Mohammadi!). It’s time we moved on from such a weak defender. The UAE game in the last WCQ, where he was sent off but saved by VAR, showed you everything. He is a total liability.
* The tactics for this game were so, so wrong. We needed a ground game with technical players. GN bringing on Moghanlou and Asadi made me physically ill, it reminded me of the Enayati and Khatibi days. GN does this to justify his own career, as he keeps trying to show the PGPL as a strong league to bring credit to his coaching. Two technically weak players who need multiple chances for a single goal. Just horrible.
* I have no faith in GN bringing youth to this team, and encouraging that youth to go to Europe. We are going to be stuck with a bunch of average PGPL players in their late 20s, who score scrappy goals against Khoone be Khoone. This team will struggle to make WC 2026.

[IRAN_TILL_I_DIE]

the Qatari players would close down on Kanaani.

I think it’s asadi, not kanaani.

if he played it across, first time shot, BOOM it’s 3-3

[The]

What if he passed…

the Qatari players would close down on Kanaani.

[IRAN_TILL_I_DIE]

What if he passed…

[Scooter]

I watched it on youtube live. The replay and even English commentators were saying ref missed it!
Clearly it was a foul and direct red!
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Lol.. no they weren't!

Dude, quit saying things that weren't said (by others).

It wasn't a foul. Defender got all ball and then barely brushed Taremi's leg, and then Taremi took a dive.

[Hosseini]

I also saw the YouTube live and the commentator said it's not a foul. He said when you look at it from the correct angle, you clearly see it was not a foul.

Yeah, I don't think we were wronged at all and I referee division one and semi pro soccer. The tackle on Taremi was clean. The third goal was not offside because of Rezaian. And if anything, the penalty was subjective and not a stonewall PK - could have went either way.

[Farhad21]

Next Asian Cup will be Semi Final for us to, mark my words

Iran will boycott the next ac because its in Saudi

[AmirSalar]

I watched it on youtube live. The replay and even English commentators were saying ref missed it!
Clearly it was a foul and direct red!


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They said it wasn’t a foul after the replay and they can understand why the Iranians initially though it was

[shahabGAOL]

Next Asian Cup will be Semi Final for us to, mark my words

[vatanparast]

Live it looked like a foul but I was at work and hard to tell on small screen. Given the result, I haven’t felt like watching the replay. Only highlights which don’t show the noncalls

[Iran_19]

I also saw the YouTube live and the commentator said it's not a foul. He said when you look at it from the correct angle, you clearly see it was not a foul.

Are we talking about same youtube?
Toward the end of period when they showed replay from another angle, they said, ref missed that…


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[Tarsal Claw]

Did we really lose? Still hoping this was all a bad dream. Reality hasn’t really sunk in yet

[oracle]

Did the foul continue to impede Taremi's path to ball though? I really don't know.
For example a defender can get the ball first, but if the attacker is still trying to run and the ball is in front of him in the path to goal, I think it should be a foul.

That whole match is about that foul

[blue blood]

why do team melli fans always say this? during syria game people said thank god when we almost loss at least we wont get embarassed vs japan! guess what we beat japan. just lots of bad luck today and bad lineup. with normal lineup we beat qatar and jordan for sure. the asian cup was gifted to us and we said no. im going to be sick for a long time

I get your point, but what can I say bro. I know how you feel.
Any Team can beat another team on any given day, that's just part of the game.
My point is we have had great games such as in Australia in 97. Or even losing to Argentina in the last minute.
If we are looking for just a few games to make ourselves happy, then so be it.
We lose more important games when it matters.
Making it to the 1978 WC was truly an accomplishment by the standards back then. None of these Arab teams were even close to the quality of our team. Look at how much everyone else has improved. 48 years of not getting out of the WC group stage, or the last AFC title in 1976. It is disappointing and heartbreaking. Some may see the glass half full, but I see it more than half empty.
Been following our football forever and I have to say our fans, our players, and our nation deserve better.