Jet-lag has something to do with our Europe-based guys. Good lord. Their schedule is just too brutal. Taking a flight from Europe to Incheon to Teheran to Europe within 10-day period. Ouch.
Considering the way we have performed under Paulo Bento, we do not have high hopes for the qualification. Plus, our Europe-based players have to go through brutal flight schedule and jet-lag that affect their performance.
HHC and HUJ both missed numerous sitters. I think jet-lag caused such poor performance. They came off from astonishing game at their respective clubs just few days prior to the Syria contest.
This Korean NT looks better to me than the one four years ago and, frankly, its qualification doesn't appear much in jeopardy. Japan, on the other hand, right now look like they will have to qualify via the playoffs.
Of course we are glad where we are in terms of point race. Our individual talent pool is, without any doubt, one of the best in Asia. The problem lies in lack of cohesiveness. We have heavily relied on extraordinary talents such as Kim Min-jae on the back and Son at the top. If some of these guys get hurt or suspended for accumulation of yellow cards, what's next? Paulo Bento has failed to answer to that question yet. I know Japan is in serious trouble as they have already dropped too many points early on. But we do not have room for worrying about them. Azadi has always posed big challenge for us. This game really worries me.
While I am hoping Iran keeps up with tradition and beats S. Korea in Tehran, Azadi stadium in the Covid era with merely 1,000 fans isn't the same thing as in the past.
I agree with this. KNT looks better under bento. It is not his fault that our players missing open sitters. So far we lose 3? (not sure with the stats) under bento.
S. Korea IMO looks better now than 4 years ago -- or even under Bento in the last Asian Cup. As for the match against Iran, we will find out in a few days. I hope to see both teams at their very best, in which case IMO Iran will win Last I heard, the AFC has approved 1,000 even if Iran's health ministry had authorized up to 10,000. Whatever the ultimate number, it won't be the same atmosphere and packed stadiums as in the past.
fifa ranking (group A): iran 22 south korea 36 uae 69 iraq 72 syria 81 lebanon 97 group A table after 3 matches: iran 9 south korea 7 uae 2 lebanon 2 iraq 2 syria 1 group A expected results after 4 matches(higher fifa ranking country wins): - iran beats south korea - syria beats lebanon - uae beats iraq expected group A table after 4 matches: iran 12 south korea 7 uae 5 syria 4 lebanon 2 iraq 2
It is hard for me to predict Iran v S. Korea. To me, it will really depend on things that are mostly unpredictable. But I am certainly comfortable saying that Iran has the tools to beat S. Korea (and even beat them comfortably). For Iran, the duo of Azmoun-Taremi can overcome any Asian defense, while by Asian standards, Iranian defenders are generally disciplined, tough, physically strong, and technically capable. If they perform as well as they are capable of, they should be able to contain Son, Hwang and co. That is unless Son, for instance, unlike all of his other games against Iran, has a performance on par with the best we have seen from him in the EPL. That he found the net to score the late winner against Syria after a drought for S.Korea, and showed some sparks in that match while doing well orchestrating some of Korea's attacks around Syria's box, are somewhat ominous signs for me and should be rather encouraging for Korean fans. But Iranian defenders, and Iran's team defense -- while still not at the level of the Iranian team that totally shut out S. Korea from even a shot or chance much less a goal 4 years ago in Tehran -- are still much better than anything S. Korea will have encountered in its earlier matches in this group. One thing that is clear: shots and chances against Iran are always going to be at a premium. If S. Korea are going to leave Iran with points, they definitely need to do better finishing any chances they get than they have so far in this tournament. Iran, on other hand, will just need to show up with the right lineup and avoid stupid mistakes. The rest will take care of itself.
I don't recall all their names right now, but there have been quite a few S. Korean coaches who elicited similar comments before and after facing Iran. Whether Bento will join that rather long list, remains to be seen.
It's more of a shot at Bento at this point. He had years and still cannot put forth a meaningful tactic...mind you that this current team is arguably the most talented in KNT history.
You would know better, but I was actually quite impressed by the game I saw from S.Korea against Syria, especially in the first half where one of your talents (Hwang HC) missed 3 easy sitters. But your team clearly had some problems too, most of them highlighted in parts of the 2nd half in the same match.
Azmoun still plays for Zenit in Russia, even if the rumor mill continuously links him to moving to various clubs elsewhere.
Yeah. The problem could have been avoided if Bento subbed a midfielder to help the defense. The momentum was on syria's side since there was no defense in the midfield.