Now they're going to blame Tata for their entire system failing to develop decent players in recent years.
For national teams that's a false move. When you're a country with players in the top leagues, especially in the epl, your players have had a long season playing that way. As tournements are, except this 2022 one, are after a long season, the chances are your players can't sustain that kind of play in a tournement that has matches in a rapid succession. When you face an opponent who's capable of sucking out your energy by letting you chase the ball with precision and speed play, you fall apart.
https://apnews.com/article/soccer-sports-iran-international-743735d1d34e1e4c394800a042c953f8 That manager Iran fired? Six days later, they backtracked and reinstated him. Bruh.
https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/07/17/iran-reinstates-fired-national-soccer-team-coach “The federation voted to fire Skocic, who took the job in early 2020, on July 11 after a friendly defeat to Algeria in June and reports of divisions in the team.” Well firing the coach and then reinstating him six days later should get rid of the divisions within the team…
We know from the game at Canada that basically everyone is. The only exception was Weah who was vaccinated based on French standards, but not Canadian standards. Something I’m sure would be taken care of if it were an issue for Qatar.
July 15 Marcelo is at Arsenal 🏴 at 18.Malik is at Rangers 🏴 at 20.Levels.— Hat-trick Chris 🇲🇽 (@HatTrickChris) July 15, 2022 July 18 European and MLS clubs are chasing after Marcelo Flores on loan. His move could be announced as soon as Wednesday. (via @TheSecretScout_) pic.twitter.com/Cj5JK1OLKR— German (@PopOutGerman) July 18, 2022 Please send him to the Colorado Rapids lol
Per the Guardian: “Six days after being dismissed amid reports that the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) wanted to appoint a homegrown coach, the Croat was controversially reinstated last weekend on a technicality because the federation realised it didn’t have the authority to dismiss him until it holds elections for a new president at the end of next month.” Not ideal four months before the World Cup. Especially as it sounds like the players are divided. https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...es-fading-amid-botched-sacking-squad-acrimony
So it sounds like after firing and then reinstating him 4 months prior to the World Cup, they may end up firing him again 2-3 months before the World Cup, after they elect a new president.
Strike partners at loggerheads: Iran’s World Cup hopes fading amid botched sacking and squad acrimony https://t.co/rIyZ70efKO— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) July 23, 2022 https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...es-fading-amid-botched-sacking-squad-acrimony “After that, the team went into two groups. One led by Azmoun, with the younger players who have been given their chance by Skocic and are happy with him. Then there are the more experienced players with European experience who want to make a change. Unity used to be one of the team’s biggest strengths but we don’t have that any more.” Elections for president take place on 30 August and Skocic’s position is expected to come under more pressure before the next training camp in September. ... “This is the opinion that some people have,” says Banisaeid. “They believe that the Iranian government wants to play at the World Cup against its political opponents England and USA with an Iranian coach so they can show that we are a proud nation fighting against our big rivals with our own people.” ... “This will be our third World Cup in a row and there was lots of optimism when we saw the draw that this could be a good chance to get through the group. Even though some people may have underestimated the USA and Wales, everyone thought we could do something in Qatar. But now everyone is so disappointed and there is not much hope among the public. It’s heartbreaking for the nation.”
Sounds like a mix of regime nonsense and legitimate concerns… Reddit comment: “just browse r/teammelli for like 20 minutes and you’ll find your answers Essentially training sessions and preparation standards are amateur level compared to Queiroz etc. he’s a master deflector of criticism etc He’s just well in above his head for a position of this stature” An unnamed #TeamMelli player revealed that Qatar camp was fraught with indiscipline.▪️Breakfast wasn’t mandatory, with players opting out▪️There was no analytical/video, weight training or pool sessionsThis is stark contrast to previous regime where everything was meticulous pic.twitter.com/8pyXDbnFWN— Persian Soccer (@prznsoccer) July 21, 2022 Dragan Skočić chose the Qatar camp, citing other teams camping there.This is untrue as playoffs were played there by FIFA’s decree. It was not by choice.The only thing that was mandatory in the camp was the night sessions, where sweltering heat forced night-only practice. pic.twitter.com/Psaxd9W88K— Persian Soccer (@prznsoccer) July 21, 2022
Perhaps, but these things are so hard to predict. Iran might play poorly v England, a bit better v Wales, then still better v us. Even if Iran loses all three games, they might do relatively better against us, which might damage our chances. And while it’s still a sporting contest, and an eliminated team might have lessened motivation, or try a younger/experimental lineup, I think Iran will bring it against us no matter what the standings show. After all, if the opportunity to ruin the advancement chances of The Great Satan can’t provide enough extra motivation, then why even bother playing at all?
Right now it has a Togo '06, France '10 vibe to it. Before this circus I felt Iran, w/its ever improving performance in '06 to '14, to '18, combined with its uptick in performance at the Asian Championships and a reasonable qualifying campaign represented something Wales did not: completely integrated, attackingly sound and talented, experienced squad that would do its country proud and be a hard beat. In six previous WC games they kept things square, won, or only ever lost by a goal save for the matchday 3 trouncing Bosnia gave them. But this has a stink on it. They finished qualifying and got nothing of value out of the June window, have a split in the squad, or it sounds like they have a split, they fired and rehired a coach, have a new fed chief coming in apparently, have one window left before the tournament. Anything's possible, but I feared an Iran with something to play for on matchday 3, after stealing points on matchday 2, this Iran looks like its ready to implode. Capable no doubt, w/that attacking talent, and familiarity between players, but it sounds like the coaching stinks, the fed stinks, theirs a split, all the ingredients are in place for an implosion in November/December.
Iran has at least organized a match against Uruguay in September in Austria, though they don't have a second match scheduled at this time. It's reaching the point where their cannot be too many interesting teams available for a second match. All of COMNEBOL is busy except for the absolute bottom squads, Africa and Europe are busy. So that leaves a CONCACAF side or another Asian opponent that they've likely already played recently.
Is the Iran game the only one in Doha? Based on this the other two appear to be in the outskirts... USA will play at three incredible stadiums in the #Qatar2022 group stage! Which matchup are you most looking forward to? 🇺🇸🦅November 21 - 🇺🇸 vs. 🏴 @ Ahmed Bin AliNovember 25 - 🏴 vs. 🇺🇸 @ Al BaytNovember 29 - 🇮🇷 vs. 🇺🇸 @ Al Thumama pic.twitter.com/5eRxZYGem0— AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ (@Qatar2023en) July 25, 2022
The Pearl isn't that one of the Dharma Initiative stations from LOST... Gregg Berhalter's USA squad will stay on the luxurious Pearl in Doha for the Qatar World Cup
Al Bayt is technically outside the small city of Al Khor, but still only an hour away from central Doha. The other two are in greater Doha.
British Columbia alone is the size of California, Nevada, Arizona and half of Oregon put together. The distances here are enormous, driving from Vancouver to Prince George is 10 hours, and from there to Watson Lake is 7 hours. The 2026 World Cup is going to cover the largest area ever, the whole of North America. What a contrast with the Qatar one, the smallest since the first one (held in Montevideo only, in three stadiums within walking distance of each other).
Sounds like FIFA is going to shift the Qatar-Ecuador match to Sunday, November 20 and have it open the World Cup. The Netherlands -Senegal match will likely shift from the early kickoff on November 21 to one later in the day. The USA-Wales match should be unaffected. This actually will have interesting TV implications in the United States if Fox was planning to show the NFL on that Sunday, as I assume the Qatar-Ecuador match will be scheduled for 12 PM EST. FIFA set to confirm in coming days that World Cup will start on Sun 20 Nov, with Qatar v Ecuador. Both countries consulted, CONMEBOL made request + proposal submitted to Bureau of FIFA Council. England v Iran unaffected. Netherlands v Senegal will go from 10am GMT kick-off to 4pm— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) August 10, 2022
crazy lol. I'm going to this match (Qat vs ecuador) + Senegal vs Netherlands. Thought they'd be on the same day, and got the ticket for the latter specifically because I thought it'd be the opening game. Now doesn't really have the same appeal....
They've said the match will kick off at 11AM EST. I'd imagine the game will get bumped to FS1 anyway due to traditional NFL coverage starting at 12PM EST.