India vs. Iran Match Thread | 2025 CAFA Nations Cup

[Shayan_91]

I’m not saying we should be satisfied with today’s performance or TM’s current situation. But this pattern isn’t new. Even under CQ, and almost every time we faced weaker teams, the players looked unmotivated, the football was uninspiring and hope was hard to find. Looking back over the past 20 years, TM has never played consistently attractive football between World Cups. But when the stakes were high and the opponents strong, the team has shown real quality - think Japan last year, Wales (2022), Spain & Portugal (2018) and Argentina (2014). Just before and even during the Asian Cup, nobody thought we had a realistic chance against Japan - look what happened. And certainly no one expected the level of play we showed against Spain or Portugal back then.

It’s always the same cycle: under Daei, CQ, Ghalenoei, Ghotbi or anyone else. Against weak teams and in low-stakes tournaments (like this tokhmi cup), we almost always look terrible. Against top sides in big games, we can deliver.

To be clear, I’m not saying I’m happy with Ghalenoei or with the current trajectory of Iranian football. Not at all - especially compared to CQ’s era, when more young players were moving to Europe. But I still hope that at the WC, we can expect respectable and honourable performances that will make us proud.

[webmaster]

So the IR defeated India? Who cares?? This is not my TM anymore.

[Team Melli Fan]

India vs. Iran highlights:

https://footballitarin.com/video_page.php?id=142552

https://www.reddit.com/r/teammelli/comments/1n5z7bd/highlights_india_vs_iran_2025_cafa_nations_cup/

[Nokhodi]

Some are putting too much weight on these games.
Even GN has said I told IFF I don’t want to play in CAFA cup 8 months ago.

These games should be viewed as scrimmages and not much else. Also a good excuse for players to hang out together. That’s about it.

Unfortunately Khodabandelou and Koushki already injured.

[a_m]

Some are putting too much weight on these games.
Even GN has said I told IFF I don’t want to play in CAFA cup 8 months ago.

These games should be viewed as scrimmages and not much else. Also a good excuse for players to hang out together. That’s about it.

Unfortunately Khodabandelou and Koushki already injured.

That is sad , that khobadandelou and koushki got injured in such a low pace game or impact game

[webmaster]

Some are putting too much weight on these games.
Even GN has said I told IFF I don’t want to play in CAFA cup 8 months ago.

These games should be viewed as scrimmages and not much else. Also a good excuse for players to hang out together. That’s about it.

Unfortunately Khodabandelou and Koushki already injured.

I guess you answered yourself. Look at the bold part.

[mehdi13]

It took an hour to score against India?

[Team Melli Fan]

What I like about the CAFA tournament is it brings the Iranic / Persianate cultures together, and it's a good chance for the other CAFA teams like Afghanistan and Tajikistan to improve

[Prowess]

I’m not saying we should be satisfied with today’s performance or TM’s current situation. But this pattern isn’t new. Even under CQ, and almost every time we faced weaker teams, the players looked unmotivated, the football was uninspiring and hope was hard to find. Looking back over the past 20 years, TM has never played consistently attractive football between World Cups. But when the stakes were high and the opponents strong, the team has shown real quality - think Japan last year, Wales (2022), Spain & Portugal (2018) and Argentina (2014). Just before and even during the Asian Cup, nobody thought we had a realistic chance against Japan - look what happened. And certainly no one expected the level of play we showed against Spain or Portugal back then.

It’s always the same cycle: under Daei, CQ, Ghalenoei, Ghotbi or anyone else. Against weak teams and in low-stakes tournaments (like this tokhmi cup), we almost always look terrible. Against top sides in big games, we can deliver.

To be clear, I’m not saying I’m happy with Ghalenoei or with the current trajectory of Iranian football. Not at all - especially compared to CQ’s era, when more young players were moving to Europe. But I still hope that at the WC, we can expect respectable and honourable performances that will make us proud.

Excellent post. This goes to show the high potential of our team when our players are locked in. Unfortunately, our aging squad is in desperate need of young talent, like hosseinnejad.

[Hosseini]

Man we better hope God looks favorably on us Dec 5 😭😭

[Nokhodi]

Man we better hope God looks favorably on us Dec 5 😭😭

We'll be drawn in Mexico's group.
I'm confident on this.

[perspolis#1]

It’s always the same cycle: under Daei, CQ, Ghalenoei, Ghotbi or anyone else. Against weak teams and in low-stakes tournaments (like this tokhmi cup), we almost always look terrible. Against top sides in big games, we can deliver.

To be clear, I’m not saying I’m happy with Ghalenoei or with the current trajectory of Iranian football. Not at all - especially compared to CQ’s era, when more young players were moving to Europe. But I still hope that at the WC, we can expect respectable and honourable performances that will make us proud.

You have a good point but the issue is that there were more options in those tournaments for us to use. Steps were taken to minimize our weaknesses.

Our squad is much older and lacks pace also.

Right now GN is making it obvious that Rezaian, Cheshmi, Kanaani etc will be absolute starters and we see them actively struggling against a press vs India and Afghanistan.

We will play Uzbekistan in the final and if we get cooked its a sign of things to come unfortunately

[BacheLot]

sorry, i can't be arsed to watch these bs games..! :/


we had one decent footballing distraction in Taremi at Inter which also went to shitts... now i gotta wait till UCL/ WC for the next worth the watch, decent fixture..! :/

[Hosseini]

You have a good point but the issue is that there were more options in those tournaments for us to use. Steps were taken to minimize our weaknesses.

Our squad is much older and lacks pace also.

Right now GN is making it obvious that Rezaian, Cheshmi, Kanaani etc will be absolute starters and we see them actively struggling against a press vs India and Afghanistan.

We will play Uzbekistan in the final and if we get cooked its a sign of things to come unfortunately

I this point I'm hoping that Mohebbi and Hosseinzadeh go sicko mode and have a breakout tournament. And that Azmoun shows up big time. This is our hope for a good world cup, until we can get past the GN era.

[perspolis#1]

I this point I'm hoping that Mohebbi and Hosseinzadeh go sicko mode and have a breakout tournament. And that Azmoun shows up big time. This is our hope for a good world cup, until we can get past the GN era.

One can hope.

1) If we can sideline political BS(IR sending cronies and/or boycotts etc)...

2) We get a new qualifier team who is inexperienced in Pot 4 and might choke...

3) Younger players come in clutch with a goal or assist enough to carry a result.

With GNs brand of football the only strategy we have vs a Pot 1 team is not park the bus CQ style or exchanging counter attacks like a quick team like Georgia would vs Spain for example.

Our hope is to make the game very ugly and slow to prevent the other team from building momentum.

If we end up with Mexico for example, GN might as well make it a game plan to score off set pieces and break up play/foul if the game is in bounds for more than 20 seconds.