{"id":35186,"date":"2019-01-23T14:13:38","date_gmt":"2019-01-23T22:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/?p=35186"},"modified":"2019-01-23T14:13:38","modified_gmt":"2019-01-23T22:13:38","slug":"marcello-lippi-and-carlos-queiroz-key-to-deciding-china-v-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/2019\/01\/23\/marcello-lippi-and-carlos-queiroz-key-to-deciding-china-v-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Marcello Lippi and Carlos Queiroz key to deciding China v Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sport 360 – ABU DHABI, A pair of coaching grandees will clash in\u00a0Asian Cup 2019\u2019s\u00a0quarter-finals when Marcello Lippi\u2019s China meet Carlos Queiroz\u2019s Iran.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latter\u2019s tempestuous eight-year stint at the helm of Team Melli has seen him make history with successive World Cup qualifications, but fail to end a continental trophy drought stretching back to 1976.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lippi\u2019s lucrative return to Chinese football after a short period of retirement has yet to catch fire. He\u2019ll need to lean on all the lessons learned during a celebrated 37-year coaching career to advance at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium against a stronger opponent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the talking points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managerial might<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For all the undoubted talent on the pitch, most eyes at MBZ will settle on the battle in the dugouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Queiroz, 65, counts Real Madrid and Portugal among his former employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the Mozambique-born tactician has demonstrated unsurpassed mastery of the political machinations that are unique to Iran\u2019s febrile football environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lippi, 70, lifted the World Cup with Italy in 2006 and claimed 13 major titles at Juventus. His deep tactical knowledge and ability to change a match \u2013 present during Sunday\u2019s essential half-time formation switch that turned defeat to victory in the round of 16 against Thailand \u2013 are unrivaled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pair\u2019s influence on proceedings in Abu Dhabi will be sizeable. Intriguingly, both face defining nights when it comes to their immediate legacies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Queiroz has admitted he is \u201chonoured\u201d by interest from Colombia. Years of flirtations and exclamations about an exit from Iran should finally come to fruition after this tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For all his unprecedented success with Team Melli, the lack of silverware is glaring. Overall victory in the UAE will make him a legend, plus temper painful memories of 2015\u2019s epic quarter-final loss to Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lippi is expected to resume his retirement when China\u2019s run in the UAE ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An inability to bring through a future generation has drawn criticism, plus correct the woeful World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign he inherited. Scorers against Thailand were 33-year-old Xiao Zhi and 32-year-old Gao Lin, while his Guangzhou Evergrande general Zheng Zhi remains skipper at 38.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But upset Iran and a positive final chapter can still be written.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to do about Wu?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wu Lei\u2019s continued scintillating form with Chinese Super League champions Shanghai SIPG marked him out as a forward to watch in the Emirates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A two-goal salvo of staggering quality against the Philippines, however, hid the damage caused by a horrific collarbone injury suffered in the opening 2-1 win against Kyrgyzstan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 27-year-old toiled against Thailand until Lippi brought on support in the shape of veteran Guangzhou R&F striker Xiao Zhi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But will the Italian be prepared to sacrifice his favoured 4-3-3 formation against an Iran that are so strong in midfield?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding fluidity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 2-0 victory against Gulf Cup holders Oman \u2013 a fourth-successive clean sheet \u2013 in the round of 16 is respectable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Team Melli, however, the lack of fluidity on show provides worry about a deep run in the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aerial bombardment put on the Omani defence is not likely to gain such success against China. Suspension for Trabzonspor linkman Vahid Amiri adds a further headache for Queiroz, plus Majid Hosseini\u2019s surprising fragility at centre-back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karim Ansarifard or Saman Ghoddos should replace the former, while Hossein Kanaanizadegan has played twice this tournament in defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Queiroz much choose the right options. Something intangible is missing at present that would make Iran clear favourites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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