Get to know our opponents in the upcoming Qualifiers

[50Toman]

I watched the first half from min 23. I really don't know which game you guys are watching, but Morocco is a solid and good side. You guys make it seem as if they are Brazil.

[saeed_noro]

I'm going to the Morocco game and read that about 20,000 Iranians from Iran are making the trip. Thats a good chunk of people to fill out the stadium. Then throw in diaspora.

Russians might lean our way too.

Much better than what I saw in Iran-Argentina..we were about 5-10k tops.

i do not believe 20.000 will come..

but be sure moroccans also travel with their fans, after so many years they will be there with high numbers and i am sure more moroccons will be there as iranian fans.....this is for sure.

[KasraKhan]

God after watching the way their midfield plays, it makes me so much more mad that Ezatolahi got suspended. We would've been golden with him playing. I just remember the SK game in Tehran and how he pretty much neutralized their entire midfield on his own. We will sorely miss both him and Ali Karimi for this Morocco game.

I think Ezzi's absence is a huge, huge loss for Iran. We didn't realize how valuable he was until we realized we won't have him.

Next to PAG, I think Ezzi's absence will hurt the team the most. We have replacements for most other players, including ARJ and Sardar, but not Ezzi.

He really screwed himself (and TM) by picking up that unnecessary yellow, and if memory serves me correct, it was a bulls*** call too, typical...

[Saam]

iran of course. also slovakia game is iran. our football is similar and physical also similar to ukraine...and slovakia..

Lol I highly doubt they are preparing a 3-4-3 for Iran. They would not play so defensive against us unless they were looking for a draw. I think their choice of friendly opponents were more out of necessity than anything else.

[DJPedram]

how many Moroccan you think will be in Russia?

[Persian-Pride87]

Even first half between Ukraine and Morocco with the edge going to Ukraine.

Morocco thus far hasn't looked very good this match.

[Leicester City]

Even first half between Ukraine and Morocco with the edge going to Ukraine.

Morocco thus far hasn't looked very good this match.

They got tired to quickly and stopped their passing flow (Here is where Iran takes over)

[pdot]

Even first half between Ukraine and Morocco with the edge going to Ukraine.

Morocco thus far hasn't looked very good this match.

Watching this game, it makes sense why CQ used high pressure tactics against Turkey. Our tactics last game are perfectly designed for Morocco.

[Leicester City]

Penalty not given smh

[perspolis#1]

Penalty not given smh

That Left back looks very athletic but clumsy. I hope Jahanbakhsh can practice some dark arts in the next two weeks.

[perspolis#1]

Moroccan midfielders take as many unnecessary long shots as Iranian ones do.

The likeness is uncanny.

[Afat11]

They got tired to quickly and stopped their passing flow (Here is where Iran takes over)

I don't know if some notice, but we start the first 15 minutes of almost every game under pressure. This looks to be by design, as we hoof the ball to the other team and give them possession. This has worked in the past, as the 15 minutes of (planned) frustration can cause a teams rhythm to slow for the rest of the match. We cannot sustain our style if we are trying to attack from minute 1.

As long as we do not concede early as we did to Turkey, this has shown itself to be a strong tactic. Frustration + counter attack. We allow one team in 4 years to score on us within 15 minutes, and now CQ is a fraud loser.

Seriously, CQ has a plan, and we should sit back and not try and be couch Mourinhos telling him the tactics to start the match with.

[Persian-Pride87]

Fight Fight!!

This Morocco team seems really khashen. I haven't watched any of their games. Are they typically this aggressive?

[perspolis#1]

We cannot sustain our style if we are trying to attack from minute 1.

Not sure if you remember Iran-Mexico but we attacked relentlessly for the first 15 minutes and we gassed out at the end. It definitely is a correlation.

[Afat11]

Not sure if you remember Iran-Mexico but we attacked relentlessly for the first 15 minutes and we gassed out at the end. It definitely is a correlation.

Yes, if you will attack from minute 1, you should either score within that time and hold the lead, a la Turkey, or you should be a powerhouse like Spain that can overcome the frustration based on being a class above the rest.