That's true, but I think it will heavily bring down the quality and overall excitement of a World Cup. The top 5 Asian teams (Korea, Japan, Australia, Iran and Saudi Arabia) know they will qualify every time so the qualifiers won't mean much to them. And with all due respect, teams like UAE might qualify for a World Cup but they have no business in being there. Therefore I think 5 slots for AFC is more than enough.
UAE has been third best team in our group so far. They are usually better than all or most of lower seeded teams. Instead of "UAE", you could say "some teams". Anyway everybody have their own views. Normally I am neutral but this time I want UAE finishes third in the group above Lebanon, Syria, and even Iraq because of two reasons that I prefer to to not talk about them.
The good news for Iran is that Skocic and Taremi have patched things up and he will join Iran's team for the upcoming home qualifiers against Iraq and the UAE. The bad news is that: 1- Sardar Azmoun, who recently finalized his move from Zenit to Bayer Leverkusen when his contract with Zenit expires in the summer, has tested positive for Covid (his 2nd test unfortunately returned positive a couple of hours ago). He will be one several players who won't be available for the upcoming 2 WCQs, the most noteworthy among the rest Ahmad Nourallahi, who starts for Iran in midfield. 2- While Iran's starting central defender Hossein Kanani wasn't dropped from the national team list despite speculation he would be dropped due to some serious off-field misconduct issues, it still not clear Skocic will be able to turn a blind-eye on his misconduct and actually allow him to play for Iran for now.
What Kanaani did? He's a bad boy, no doubt about this but is a reliable defender. I like him more than Shoja who had a lot of moments of poor defending despite being better with the ball at his feet. Probably this is a good combination of centre backs.
I agree with your evaluation of Kanani and Shoja (Khalilzadeh). In fact, but for the chemistry between Kanani and Shoja (both former teammates at Persepolis), I would much prefer Kanani to be paired with Majid Hosseini who plays for Kayserispor in Turkey and (despite his then very young age) performed admirably for Iran in WC18. As for what Kanani did, a tape of a phone conversation between him and a teenage girl was released on social media where (when he was in national team camp before one of our qualifiers ) he was soliciting a "quickie" in the back of the team bus despite Covid protocols and moral and disciplinary norms. (Kanani, I have read, has denied the authenticity of the audio which is otherwise quite damning of him).
Yeah, when you're a professional player and win a lot of money should stay away from these things when you're in the camp, but I hate these modern times with social media, players can't do anything or say anything. They don't like the virus protocols because they know is a shit. All these athletes who have been tested "positive" have absolutely nothing. When the last test will be made before players are cleared up to play? 24 h before the game?
Azmoun, Nourallahi, Haj Safi have been definitely ruled out due to Covid already. 8-9 players recently joining the team are in quarantine awaiting their Covid test results. The bad news has been piling up for us today, with several players having trouble with their flights which have been cancelled or re-routed because of snow/weather. (Taremi, who patched up things with our coach, is also reportedly stranded right now somewhere after a 7 hour delay as his flight was re-routed from Istanbul to some unheard of location in Turkey. Its not clear he will make it to Tehran in time. Sayadmanesh was also unable to join the team because he is transferring to Hull City and his passport is with the club for work permit issues. Basically, half of the team will miss even the 1-2 day training camp before the match and several will miss the game altogether. All peanuts compared to what some other sides are/have been going through recently, but still raising doubts what kind of side will show up for Iran?
Another Iranian player, this one the player that would have replaced Kanani if the latter is benched for the issues I alluded to, namely Iran and Kayserispor central defender, Majid Hosseini, hasn't been ruled out because off Covid!
in the midst of everything else, the saga of Taremi's diverted flight to a small town in Turkey, with airports closed because of snow, having to be driven around ....he is reportedly being driven to Antalya, from their to Ankara, so he could fly to Iran since the Ankara airport has flights...unlikely for Taremi to make it for the Iraq game but hopefully he will be safe and rested for the UAE
I see Iraq have some players tested "positive" as well. International football is quite complicated nowadays. I don't like that thing with centralised venue but I think is the best option at the moment. Are fans allowed to attend Iran vs Iraq?
I read about Iraq having Covid issues as well...not sure/not officially confirmed re spectators but IMO not very likely.
In the end no fans allowed and Iraqi players are not going to be retested due to protocols in Iran. The final tests will be made today (24 h before the match). @Iranian Monitor, Did you have the intention to go to game? Because initially 12000 tickets would be sold
The latest reports indicate 10,000 fans will be allowed to attend. I'm not in Iran right now, so I wouldn't be able to attend either way.
Iran v Iraq: Iran will be hoping for a big win to clinch in style, but both sides will be under-strength in a rather chaotic build up to this game. Iraq will have up to 8 players ruled out due to Covid, while Covid and a slew of other issues will be denying Iran up to half a dozen players. Lebanon v S. Korea: the Korean flights and preparations have been hampered by bad weather and injuries to Son and Hwang, but they come into this game after impressive wins in warm up games over Iceland (5:1) and Moldova (4:0) Although the match will be away in Lebanon, the Koreans will be looking for a big win. UAE v Syria: I am rooting for Syria, but a repeat of their Arab Cup loss seems more likely. Maybe they can hold the UAE to a draw, as the latter has shown itself very poor scoring goals despite the superior possession they often end up with.
For me the 3rd place is a race between the UAE and Iraq. I think Iraq have the better remaining schedule but UAE goes with a two points lead over Iraq into the last four matchdays. I believe when all is said and done it will be 1. Iran 2. South Korea 3. UAE 4. Iraq 5. Lebanon 6. Syria
I couldn't help smile as the beinsport commentator was trying to find an explanation why Lebanon players seem to get injured so easily anyway, still 0:0 between Lebanon and S.Korea (who have created moments -- usually going long behind Lebanon's defense --) but not entirely dominant either.
what a chance missed by Lebanon, header hits post and Lebanon can't shoot the rebound straight into goal!
Lebanon relies exclusively on set pieces and long-range shots. They are too limited to trouble South Korea from open play.
Lebanon will have to try to take the game to S.Korea now and the 2nd half will show if they can trouble them from the run of play?
Iran's lineup has been announced. Incredibly, Taremi (whose plane landed in Iran only this morning after 2 days being stranded in airports), is in the starting lineup! Abedzadeh -- M. Sadeghi, Kanani, S. Khalilzadeh, Noorafkan -- Ezatollahi, Jahanbakhsh, Amiri, Ghodoos -- Gholizadeh, Taremi
Not the most impressive display from South Korea but a win away from home without some key players such as Son Heung Min and Hwang Hee Chan is satisfactory.