Russia 2018 Finalists: International Friendlies (R)

Depends on the draw, I give Iranian team a fair chance to advance from group stage but certainly It won't be enough to carry us further. Most teams advancing to R16 are very strong and play their heart out in knock out stage.

Previously we had high hopes in players like Sardar Azmoun who had offers from Lazio (as their CF) and Liverpool (as an alternative for Mane), but he made his worst decision by joining his old coach in Rubin Kazan. Now, I am not sure how dangerous we can get up in front. Our other choices are Gucci from Heerenveen, Ansarifard from Olymbiacos, Razei from Charleroi, Ghoddos from Ostersunds or Mehdi Taremi our league top goal scorers. None of them are at the level of Sardar Azmoun.

 

I usually agree with most of your comments. Man I really miss 2001-2006 period when we had our golden generation and used to play open attacking football and pure technical and speed on the ground by Karimi, Mahdavikia, Azizi, ... Our defense was suck back then but our midfield and forward were killers.

Do we see those days again when CQ is gone after WC? I have a lot of respect for CQ for his discipline, organized D line and eye for talents but really disgust his ultra defensive fold which kills the fun of football.

I love those times when Karimi was the king in Asia.

 

In terms of player quality its uncontested that our squad is better than 2014. In 2014 our squad was basically the oldest in the tournament and was a salvage squad. Our only striker was a faltering Ghoochannejhad at Charlton. Now we have some guys who can find the net Azmoun/Taremi and CQ's newest foreign import Ghoddos(who picked us over Sweden).

If you planned on watching any of our games watch our LB who I think is secretly our best player(destined for the best European career out of all of them). Guy has pace on Yedlin/Musa level.

Getting to the next round is dependent on the group for us. I wouldn't expect them to go through if our group is Germany,Spain, Iran, Nigeria. We will be underdogs to go through but I like a matchup of Portugal, Peru, Iran, Panama as an ok chance of us going through where we still need to earn it.

 

He is only a fast pace and hard working player with decent crosses. He is a warrior type but he lacks the physics. If he had the muscles and height of Rezaian, he could be a little more reliable. I am afraid he won't be as effective as we want against African/European teams. All they need is someone with strong physic try to shut him down by pushing or committing fouls on him. He was great in Russian league until he got injured.

Someone with Mahdavikia speed and strength could help us in that flank. Milad has the speed and intelligence but lacks strong physics. He can be effective against South American/Asian teams in my opinion. In Asia we can dominate or be imposing because of our natural physics but in WC that is not enough vs most of European and some African teams.

 

Try getting physical with Uruguay.

 

Our players are not sisie and they are famous as rough players but not as bad tempered as Uruguay. No offence but Iranian players are strong enough to stand their ground vs South American teams physically including Uruguay.

Iranian players height
GK: 192, 193, 194, 193 avg= 193
DF: 187, 185, 182, 188, 190, 182, 185, 178 (Milad Mohamadi), 178 (RB) avg=184
MF: 176, 179, 181, 190, 181 avg= 181.5
W/FW: 185, 183, 177, 180, 186, 181, 180, 185, 187 avg= 182.7
Total avg= 184.4

Uruguayan players height
GK: 186, 186, avg = 186
DF: 187, 185, 187, 196, 185, 173, 174 avg= 183.8
MF: 187, 187, 171, 181, 176, 170, 177, 174, 169 avg=176.9
W/FW: 188, 174, 184, 186, 184, 182 avg=183
Total avg=181.1

As you can see Iranians are on average taller and physically larger compared to Uruguayan. Our Goal keepers are all 6-8 centimeters higher than Uruaguayan GKs. This means better aerial clearance on crosses and corners. Defense line is almost equal average height but Iranian have taller midfielders which means usually higher win percentage in aerial challenge and generally stronger players. Forwards and wingers are also similar in height. This is obviously just comparing advantage of physics of players and not skill sets or experiences.

 

I think, and I say this, fondly if Suarez bites someone like Taremi or Ezzatollahi he might never walk again.

 

To enforce your view

@Pipiolo: One example: Watch this video from 1:00. (the stamp after a slap) not to be proud of this but we have also bad tempered players. This one is a minor case.


Or this one from min 4:53 (rough tackle)

 

Back to the topic at hand...
....Colombian media is Reporting that Los Cafeteros will face Portugal and Egypt during the next FIFA dates in March.

 

Hope it's official. It would make sense considering they had to cancel their last scheduled friendly due to the confed cup. A match, although only a friendly, really is a long time coming.

 

I don't think that average height is enough to decide that Iran can manhandle Uruguay. I would like to see your team actually play Uruguay and see how it goes thinking they can manhandle them.

 

It has nothing to do with biting, more about seeing the Iranian attackers whimpering after Godin or Vecino puts them on their asses.

 

We actually did just that a few years ago, manhandling the Uruguayans who were trying to get dirty and physical with us, so much that some of their players were crying during the match, the police had to invade the pitch to restore peace, and there were multiple red cards and best of all, and I kid you not, and this is a true story, a group of Uruguayan players came to our team’s hotel in Hong Kong at midnight with baseball bats in hand, looking for a street fight with our players.

 

The only teams we will struggle with physically are the Nords for strength/Nigeria for speed.

If its biting/shirt pulling/elbows etc than thats a dirty game. That goes both ways.

Azmouns played Godin before and scored on him. Didnt seem tilted playing as a target man and backing into him for 90 minutes.

Who remembers when our little Hossein Kaabi RB in 2006 karate kicked Figo midair and roughed up Ronaldo? Lmao.

Im actually worried for Saudi because their team is the shortest in the tournament and outside their CBs ans a couple strikers might get manhandled in every game.

 

In Asia only Iranian and Uzbek football players are physically dominants. (Australians can be physically dominant too). Both Iranians and Uzbeks have the stamina and physics of old Soviet Russian teams.

 

You missed my point. Are we a dirty team? Not at all. But if a team tries to manhandle us and be dirty with us, we are not the type of team who will fold in such situations, we usually go toe to toe with the aggressor and even raise the stakes, as was the case in that match. Or the case with all the Iran-Bahrain matches in Asia or some of the Iran-Korea matches in recent times. So in short, our players are not easily intimidated and would never shy away from getting down and dirty with a team that likes that kind of tactics.

 

You are changing the subject completely, no one was talking about dirty tactics.




A lot of bluster from the Iranian posters for a team that has never gotten out of the group stages of a World Cup. Teams like Germany and Australia could not manhandle Uruguay, but you Iranians are certain you will, LOL.

 

You have some severe tunnel vision reading posts.

How many of us are saying we can beat Uruguay easily? None. We are saying the team wont get flung around like you think they will. We held up against a menacingly physical Nigeria last time and recovered to go 90 with Argentina next game.

You stated that Godin/Vecino will knock them down easily. Just saying its unlikely to happen if Mikel/Emmenike/Musa/Victor Moses/ Garay/Rojo were not manhandling. If Uruguay gets a Saudi/Japan its possible they manhandle them aggressively.

I think it would be a proper match. None of that floppy stuff you see nowadays. Done with the topic

 

This time feels different. We never said we beat S.American teams, I said we are not scared of them and our players can physically handle their pressure and stand their ground. I don't think it is so hard to understand that...

 

Yeferson Soteldo is his name. I first saw him during the U20 World Cup. He’s a lil clown who is supposed to be the next Messi.