North America 4th place vs. Asia 5th place

[Bauvafa]

Originally posted by diablodelsol
Total shots:
USA - 28
Iran - 15

Plus we hit the post three fcking times. Iran was outplayed...sometimes a team can dominate and lose...just ask Mexico
the score should have been 3-0 for Iran. We hit the post once, you hit it once too, not 3 times. A sure penalty against Keller on Azizi was not called within the first 20 min. of the game. Ali Daie missed a sure chance after the second goal when the score was still 2-0. Then US scored a questionable goal that should have been called a foul and awarded a yellow card to the US player for pushing & shoving to get the ball across the line. I still have the tape, ask any questions, will be glad to review and run it by you.

[nicodemus]

Originally posted by Bauvafa
as if we couldn't travel to Columbus at all costs! :D Yeah, but if they made it a double header with a a Crew game, that'd automatically make US fans a majority since tickets would have to go to Crew season ticket holders :D

[sendorange]

Originally posted by Bauvafa
the score should have been 3-0 for Iran. We hit the post once, you hit it once too, not 3 times. A sure penalty against Keller on Azizi was not called within the first 20 min. of the game. Ali Daie missed a sure chance after the second goal when the score was still 2-0. Then US scored a questionable goal that should have been called a foul and awarded a yellow card to the US player for pushing & shoving to get the ball across the line. I still have the tape, ask any questions, will be glad to review and run it by you.
Iran deserved to win that game and played the better football, no-one can realistically argue against that. The Iranian fans were amazing that night as well, extremely loud and passionate but not hostile.

[Bauvafa]

Originally posted by nicodemus
Yeah, but if they made it a double header with a a Crew game, that'd automatically make US fans a majority since tickets would have to go to Crew season ticket holders :D

and how would you assure that the game will be during MLS season? There has to be a FIFA rule against that!! :p

[Bauvafa]

Originally posted by sendorange
Iran deserved to win that game and played the better football, no-one can realistically argue against that. The Iranian fans were amazing that night as well, extremely loud and passionate but not hostile.

yes that game was emotionally overcharged, a great atmosphere. wish I had been there.

[nicodemus]

Originally posted by Bauvafa
and how would you assure that the game will be during MLS season? There has to be a FIFA rule against that!! :p It has happened in the past. There was a double-header with the US-Honduras qualifier and a DC United game. Sure, we can't totally control when they're matched, but if the opportunity avails itself, we'll use it. :D

["Simply Ken"]

I see some people still debating Iran v. USA!!

Iran won a closely contested match in WC98. I guess if Estili's header had hit the cross bar, instead of the back of the net, or if Mahdavikia's goal had hit the post, we too could claim we had dominated:-) Instead, we decided to take the 3 points!

Iran, of course, didn't shy away from the invitation for the US to prove that it would win "9 out of 10" times: we played the US two years later in Pasadena and that game ended 1:1. And just to show we could hit the wood-work too, Azizi put one of his shots right at the post -- closer to being a goal than anything the US ever had against Iran in either of the two matches!

The first half of Iran v. USA in WC98 ended with both sides even on shots. The US eventually outshot Iran in the 2nd half, as is normal for a side that is trailing and looking for the equalizer. Interestingly, however, the first 15 minutes of the 2nd half clearly belonged to Iran, despite the US being behind on the scoreboard.

When the 90 minutes were over in that match, Iran had scored two nice goals; was robbed of a clear penalty claim when Keller brought down Azizi; and had failed to put the ball in an empty net, with Keller tackling Daei as he was about to take his shot.

On the other side, the US had two legitimate shots hit the wood-work; it had a early chance that fortunately misconnected; it had Hedjuk's attempt snuffed by Abedzadeh; and finished the game with a goofy goal.

Between them, I personally take the side that scored the two nice goals!

Football is a funny sport. You sometimes get weird results. I know as Iran has fallen victim to some of those type of results itself. It can be frustrating, particularly if the opponent plays dirty and spends most of the game rolling on the grass.

But there was nothing unusual or dirty in Iran beating the US 2:1, except that it just didn't fit the picture the Americans had painted for themselves. Otherwise, we had started the World Cup with a close match against Yugoslavia, unfortunate to lose 1:0 on a late freekick. The US started the World Cup losing 2:0 to Germany -- the same score the Germans beat Iran, except the Germans had to break a sweat to beat us while they were keeping themselves from sweating when they played the US!

In either case, Iran and the US had exactly the same scores against Germany and Yugoslavia in that World Cup, albeit Iran only letting in the goals against it in the 2nd half while the US would give up a goal much sooner!

[daraverla]

Talking about Mexico, US, Korea and Japan...

why not set an annual friendlies among these countries?

I have to admit, I love the forging process of heated rivarly here. Granted I am a Korean(-American...this matters, right?), and maybe I am the only one here who is looking forward to seeing these matches played on a regular basis.

But what would prevent this from becoming a reality?

I think playing in Mexico at Aztech would be a good experience for both Korea and Japan, and I am totally ready to "get bitch-slapped" (as someone mentioned) if it means better preparation for the BIG tournament. Ditto for playing in New England in front of a large American crowd who is deeply bothered by anti-American sentiment in Korea.

But what about Mexicans and Americans? Unless you guys have a genuine respect for Japan and Korea, it seems like you are not so interested.

THe whole point is I want to see these matches played on an annual basis... I am sick and f**cking tired of watching Korea team playing at home for 6 freaking consecutive months!

Damn it! Go out, do something, talk to US Soccer Federation, bribe them with Samsung money! Do something.

[Shahryar]

Originally posted by daraverla
Talking about Mexico, US, Korea and Japan...

why not set an annual friendlies among these countries?...

Damn it! Go out, do something, talk to US Soccer Federation, bribe them with Samsung money! Do something.

daraverla,

There is nothing wrong with getting your team out of the country and getting them to play others for, if nothing else, the experience alone. But, why not set your goals a bit higher. I mean Americans have gotten better in the last few years, but they are still a second-rate team (regardless of what the Coca Cola FIFA ratings indicate)!

Most European teams can provide a much better challenge to Korea (and other Asian teams), in my opinion, not to mention pretty much all south American teams.

Nevertheless, I like how you think and want to gain experience regardless of the short-term losses you may encounter. How else are we going to be a powerhouse in football, if we do not get a bloody nose once in a while, right? :-)

[daraverla]

Oh, I would love Korean national team to play with England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Russia, Holland, Yugoslavia, Croatia, Scotland, Turkey, or any other notable European teams on a regular basis.

You know what!? For that matter, I am seriously willing to chip in my $100 or so for Korean Soccer Federation so that they use the money to lure those teams to play with Korean NT.

I am sick and *#*#*#*#ing tired of watching Korea-Japan, Korea-China, Korea-Saudi Arabia *#*#*#*#.

Funny some korean newspapers go as far as saying that Uzbekistan is the closest team resembling the style of European teams Korean team can actually play on a regular basis. In other words, if we are grouped with some European powerhouse, the best sparring partner would be playing against Uzbek.

Now how pathetic is that?!?!??

We were lucky to have France, Scotland, and England (and Turkey) in friendly matches right before the 2002 WC. After all, they didn't need to travel far, and, as a matter of fact, they agreed to play with as a sign of gesture to help us hosting the WC.

In other words, No World CUp in Korea, No European teams.

Since those guys won't come to Korea and since we are not invited to go over there to play with them, the US and MExico is the next best thing for us.