World Cup 2022 Qualifier: Iran - Hong Kong; Info, Updates & Live Reports (03.06.21)

[BacheLot]

I still think Hong Kong have a big part to play in this group. There last two games are against Bahrain and Iraq and are capable of pulling a shock there.

Perhaps, they look well organized defensively & play conservative on counters too..!
What gives me most hope is that their coach is rather conservative & most concerned with keeping their final score line somewhat respectable..!
If they stay as compact & conservative on attack as they did today vs us, I also think they are capable of handing Ahrain N ahraagh a late game shock ..! Hopefully..! 🙏

[The]

IMO, not sure if others have noticed, since we went to orthodox 2 up top formations azmoun and taremi have never looked as dangerous as before or combined with each other as well. I know its attractive on paper to have them both start in a 442 but they were way more efficient with taremi coming off the left and sardar up top.

Right now they are often positioned right on top of each other, occupy the same areas, and in general make it easy for the defense to defend them.

Taremi's playmaking skills have grown a lot and if u watch him for porto he is often highly involved in the build up play from wider areas and drops quite deep. I prefer him to be there and azmoun to be the man in the box.

Both of them play in a 2 up top system for their clubs, and are immensely effective in it. The main difference is that Mehdi seems to roam around more and drops deep in Porto, and Skocic should emulate that.

[ParthianDE]

Cambodia 0:5 - complete defensive meltdown...

[naderb94]

And I think Nourallahi in particular should have no place in this team,

CDM role is the biggest weakness on our team. Hajsafi and Kamal wouldn't do much better honestly.

[Medzdidz]

Goal difference (including games against Cambodia) will come into account if we are tied on points with Iraq or Bahrain to determine group positioning. I don’t see either of them beating our GD though so it is all good.

[PEJ]

I don't know. I haven't looked at the math, but I noticed lots of members do and keep bringing up goal differential. I personally didn't want to look into it myself, because I belong to those that believe we have the destiny in our own hands by winning all remaining games.

Thats the best way to look at it. Honestly, The chances are very slim if we don’t win all the games. Therefore goal differential is really inconsequential for us.

[Mr.Click]

And I think Nourallahi in particular should have no place in this team,

[BacheLot]

IMO, not sure if others have noticed, since we went to orthodox 2 up top formations azmoun and taremi have never looked as dangerous as before or combined with each other as well. I know its attractive on paper to have them both start in a 442 but they were way more efficient with taremi coming off the left and sardar up top.

Right now they are often positioned right on top of each other, occupy the same areas, and in general make it easy for the defense to defend them.

Taremi's playmaking skills have grown a lot and if u watch him for porto he is often highly involved in the build up play from wider areas and drops quite deep. I prefer him to be there and azmoun to be the man in the box.

Good point ..!
We need to revert back to our good ol 4231 CQ days formation in the vital Bahrain clash (probably vs Iraq too ..! )
We can experiment 442 again vs cumbooj..!

What we really beed is 4 wins .... by any score line ...no need to get cocky & end up loosing one likely narrowly ..!

[ParthianDE]

Why does it matter? I presume the goals against Cambodia won’t matter. If it does, we already have 14 from the first game.

I don't know. I haven't looked at the math, but I noticed lots of members do and keep bringing up goal differential. I personally didn't want to look into it myself, because I belong to those that believe we have the destiny in our own hands by winning all remaining games.

[Mr.Click]

As for Iran game,.. absolute bismal performance and horrible display of football against a bunch of amateurs, winning on 2 fluke goals.. heck, even the third goal was on a lucky rebound..and concede a goal against a team that probably wouldn't be able to score on our small town 50+ select team. Not going to judge the coach when players made this many wrong and incomplete passes and poorly executed long crosses that all went to waste. This team needs to do a lot,.. and I mean A LOT better to have a chance at back to back wins against Iraq and Bahrain.. given they don't mess up against Cambodia

[AIrani]

30 minutes to finish, Irani Bahrain 4- Cambodia 0

[naderb94]

Bahrain can score all the goals it wants on Cambodia, it won't matter at all.
We will need HK to try to steal a point from Bahrain and/or Iraq if possible.

[Medzdidz]

I still think Hong Kong have a big part to play in this group. There last two games are against Bahrain and Iraq and are capable of pulling a shock there.

[PEJ]

0:4

So much for counting on goal differential...

Why does it matter? I presume the goals against Cambodia won’t matter. If it does, we already have 14 from the first game.

[Roozbeh-G2006]

Well thats good to hear I dont know why people are fixating on goal difference. I say this every qualifying cycle but if we cant get wins against the likes of Bahrain and Iraq then we have no business going to the World Cup where we'll NEED a win against a TOP african/north american team and to take points off a top euro/south american team. If its a year where our defense leaks goals against Bahrain then I dont want Neymar dribbling into it either. Better to have a rebuild/recovery year than to embarrass ourselves.

These next 3 games, we prove our quality and grit. If we don't get the job done, we dont deserve to be at the World Cup simple as that.

I second that dadash