A big FU to all the haters who said Iran isn't a top team in Asia. Where are you now? We are sitting on top of the table with 17 points, and we conceded 0 goals so far. We are the first team in the world (5th appearance) who can officially qualify for the 2018 World Cup next June. Team Melli is your daddy baby!
I have said it before and I am not afraid to say it again. I am in fact more confident saying it. We are by far the best team in Asiaaaaaaa. We're going to Russia babyyyyyy
Solid 6 points from the March matches, now I can sleep at ease until the next set of matches. 17 points out of 21, from 7 matches. Very strong qualification round by Iran!
Iran got the job done against China. A clearly deserved win for Iran, which outclassed China all over the pitch, but not an exceptionally exciting match. At this point, Qatar and China are all but eliminated. China have a remote, outside chance, of still finishing even 2nd in the group but Qatar can't finish among the top 2 anymore even on paper. In reality, however, neither has a realistic chance of finishing even among the top 3. That leaves the group basically a contest between Iran (clear favorites), S.Korea, Uzbekistan, and to a lesser extent Syria. Of these 4 teams, 2 will grab an automatic spot and 1 will end in the playoffs and one will be eliminated. If Iran beat Uzbekistan in our next match, which will be at home, Iran will have clinched qualifying. In that case, S.Korea can also breath rather more comfortably as Iran won't have much to play for in our match against them, making it quite likely that Iran and S.Korea would be the automatic qualifiers, with the Uzbeks (or Syrians) the side to finish 3rd.
What if following happens: 8th Round: Iran beats Uzbekistan (Iran qualifies at this stage) Qatar beats South Korea Syria beats China 9th Round: Iran beats South Korea China beats Uzbekistan Syria beats Qatar 10th (Final) Round: Syria beats Iran Qatar beats China anyone team wins in the last match between Uzbekistan and South Korea...
Who said they weren't? I remember arguing a while back they had to do a bit more to substantiate that they were THE top team (eg win the next Asian Cup or make the second round in 2018), but no one who follows football could seriously suggest Iran isn't A top team in Asia. Always have been even when they had a little dip in form 3-4 years ago.
At the moment, and based on what I have seen so far, the article below pretty much sums up my view on the issue. http://www.foxsportsasia.com/footba...item628331/iran-simply-the-best-team-in-asia/ Iran – simply the best team in Asia ... "How can it be that you score six goals in seven games yet you dominate your World Cup group to the extent that you are not only going to be the first in Asia to qualify but likely to do so with two games remaining? This is Iran on the road to Russia. This is a team that has yet to concede in 630 minutes of Group A football in the final round of qualification (look back to the second round and that extends to 928 minutes). This is a team that has recorded four 1-0 wins. Yet this is no Asian version of the often-dour Arsenal that ground their way to to English success in the late eighties and early nineties. It is a team that should have won most of them by more, because if they are guilty of anything, it is missing chances. This is despite having some of the best strikers in Asia. It is just that unlike many others, Iran don’t sweat it when the extra goals don’t come. This is just one of the reasons why Iran are not just the highest ranked team in Asia according to FIFA and have been for the last four years. Iran are simply the best team in Asia. It is not Australia, it is not South Korea and it is not Japan. It is Iran." ... It is not just a team that is going to go to the World Cup but it is the one team in the continent at the moment that has what it takes to perform well in Russia. This is the difference. If Australia, Korea and Japan qualify, there has been little so far to suggest that any one of these three has what it takes to reach the knockout stage. Iran can. This is not just about getting there –they are going to be there –but what happens when you arrive. If Iran get to the second round in Russia thanks to a string of 1-0 wins, nobody will be complaining. Iran are setting the standards and it is for the rest of Asia to catch up with the continent’s best team.
I thought so too As someone who was never a fan of Querioz, and who still can't side with him when it comes to many of his off the field comments and gripes, I have to admit he has built quite an impressive side. I hope this team is able to achieve the kind of things that have alluded past Iranian teams, including not just qualifying to the World Cup successively, but advancing in the tournament to the knock out stage and even beyond.
Our team is well disciplined and organized, has a solid defense line and decent counters. We still lack the finishing instinct. I am also a critic of CQ's ultra defensive style but he covered our past weakness in organization, discipline and defense line, that kept our performance consistent for past 3 years and we should give him credit for this. Bottom line is, we may not see/enjoy the pure attacking style and flow of game we witnessed with our 2000s generation but Team Melli is getting decent results on daily basis with limited preparations under CQ. That makes our countrymen happy and I am satisfied.
New Fifa ranking of top 4 teams of both WCQs groups. Iran 820 points GA (possibly up to 30) S.Korea 700 points GA (Remain the same aka 40) Japan 685 points GB (possibly up to 41) Australia 661 points GB (possibly up to 50) Saudi Arabia 645 points GB Uzbekistan 586 points GA UAE 453 points GB Syria 426 points GA -->China 425 points GA (China is very close to Syria in fifa ranking now)
Not a hater- but just a quick note that Brazil has already clinched World Cup qualification. Iran in a good position to become the second team to clinch a berth come June.
Apparently fifa is going to increase the number of AFC teams that can qualify for fifa world cup 2026 to 8 teams. Imagine what teams will be still missing WC according to our current standing. That means Iran, S.Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Syria, Australia and UAE will qualify and teams like China, Qatar, Iraq and Thailand still have to struggle for years to come! For these teams to have some hope in qualifying for world cup, fifa should extend the number of teams to 64 from current 32 and suggested 48 teams in WC 2026! That means pretty much 1 out of 3 countries in the world will have a team in WC! It is just embarrassing. Do you agree with expanding WC to 48 or 64 teams?
No. I think 32 is fine as it is. I must concede however that I haven't read arguments in favor of expansion). Even with the expansion to 48 teams, I don't think AFC should get 8 spots.. 6.0 or 6.5 is enough.