Fromer Ireland Coach Mick McCarthy on WCQ 2002 Playoffs vs. Iran

[aenima_8]

Came across this article where he talked about his memories of coaching Ireland during the 2002 WCQ and his experience at Azadi stadium:

After his Tehran trip nothing can faze Mick McCarthy

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/norwich-vs-ipswich-preview-after-his-tehran-trip-nothing-can-faze-mick-mccarthy-10254427.html

[AminGP]

We missed so many chances in that game. If we had scored earlier, we would have scored another one and who knows maybe we would have qualified to the world cup.

If Ali Karimi would have scored one of those chances he had in Ireland we would have qualified. So many ifs.... in the game

[Ali.Karimi79]

^absolutely. Gol gofti. So many fucking If's.

[OFFSIDE_1]

let's add another "if"

if only we had that level of talent and CQ as the coach, ............

[O-ZoNe]

let's add another "if"

if only we had that level of talent and CQ as the coach, ............

I may get chewed out alive for this, but I am not sure CQ's current tactics would have gotten us a better result against Ireland. We played marvelous offensive football, thanks a lot in part to AK8 who was on his game...just 1 inch this way and the game and WC would have been ours.

[BacheLot]

for all his superb and exceptional talents
AK8 was always just an average Finisher, even in his prime..!!

[Under Lahaf]

for all his superb and exceptional talents
AK8 was always just an average Finisher, even in his prime..!!

he was selfish, trying to dribble through 4 or 5 guys, rather than creating opportunities for the rest of the players

[perspolis#1]

He had a 1v1 against Shay Given in Dublin. If he converted that we would have gone thru on away goals.

[Bi-honar]

He missed another sure goal in Dublin (other than the one on one) and another one in Tehran with the header. Had he scored either of those three sure chances, we would have been in the WC. But the worst individual error of the two legs was Rezaei's penalty IMHO.

[Bessos]

He missed another sure goal in Dublin (other than the one on one) and another one in Tehran with the header. Had he scored either of those three sure chances, we would have been in the WC. But the worst individual error of the two legs was Rezaei's penalty IMHO.

What? We missed a penalty? Or do you mean we gave away a penalty to Ireland?

[perspolis#1]

Rezaei tripped someone leading to their first goal. Lazy challenge

[Kavian]

Iran performance during the WC 2002 qualification games was one that every Iranian should forget and never go back to ...

Signs of trouble was written all over from the very start, but hardly anyone noticed or knew how to fix it ... Blazavic was struggling as the coach and could not make an impact. The sluggish start included two scoreless draws with Thailand and Bahrain, and despite of wins over Iraq and Saudi that followed , Iran never really showed much consistency in its game ...... And then came that ugly last game in Manama, all Iran needed was a draw ... but the game turned out to be one of the worse TM every played. The heart breaking 3-1 loss was as shameful as the battle of qadisiyyah <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_al-Q%C4%81disiyyah>. The waving of Saudi flag by Bahraini players, was equivalent to burning of the Drafsh e Kaviani by Umar ibn Khatab. A shameful day for Iran and Iranians.

And then .. the victories over low performing UAE and the trip to Ireland for intercontinental playoff. Iran's squad was already beaten, low in morale and self-confidence. The 3-1 loss to Bahrain was still haunting every player! .. There was really nothing that gave any hope to anyone against one of the strongest teams Ireland has every put out. A team with no shortage of stars.

The childish mistake by Rezaie for committing a stupid foul in the dying minutes of first half and the one-on-one miss by Karimi, was enough to sum up the nervousness that occupied the soul of our players.... Although the victory in Tehran was some kind of ending consolation, but it was just too late ... and regardless, it would have been a big disappointment not to see such strong Irish team in WC.

First game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFdNrkqeOmY

Second game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4oMfjikUfo

[Damavand]

Iran performance during the WC 2002 qualification games was one that every Iranian should forget and never go back to ...
Signs of trouble was written all over from the very start, but hardly anyone noticed or knew how to fix it ... Blazavic was struggling as the coach and could not make an impact. The sluggish start included two scoreless draws with Thailand and Bahrain, and despite of wins over Iraq and Saudi that followed , Iran never really showed much consistency in its game ...... And then came that ugly last game in Manama, all Iran needed was a draw ... but the game turned out to be one of the worse TM every played. The heart breaking 3-1 loss was as shameful as the battle of qadisiyyah <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_al-Q%C4%81disiyyah>. The waving of Saudi flag around the field by Bahraini players, was equivalent to burning of the Drafsh e Kaviani by Umar ibn Khatab. A shameful day for Iran and Iranians.
And then .. the victories over low performing UAE and the trip to Ireland for intercontinental playoff. Iran's squad was already beaten, low in morale and lacked self-confidence. The 3-1 loss to Bahrain was haunting every player! .. There was really nothing that gave any hope to anyone against one of the strongest teams Ireland has every put out. A team with no shortage of stars.
The childish mistake by Rezaie for committing a stupid foul in the dying minutes of first half and the one on one miss by Karimi, was enough to sum up the nervousness that occupied the soul of our players.... Although the victory in Tehran was some kind of ending consolation, but it was just too late ... and regardless, it would have been a big disappointment not to see such strong Irish team in WC.
First game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFdNrkqeOmY

Second game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4oMfjikUfo

Just a small correction. Since KSA won their last match, a DRAW would not have seen us through. Only a victory.

That Ireland team was the best they have had in their history (they nearly eliminated Spain in the round of 16, losing only on penalties at WC 02) YET we still managed to defeat them, A TASK that Neither Portugal nor Holland could do during the WCQ .

And as mentioned already, had one of those chances by Karimi gone in Dublin, it would have been us in Korea-Japan.

[Martin-Reza]

Yeah, but Shay Given was a beast.

[Love TM]

Seeing the highlights again only shows how Shay Given saved Ireland, that were some impressive saves