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When the end came it arrived without few complaints.
Iran’s World Cup campaign, one that was dominated by off-field issues, was formally
concluded by – one of all nations – America on Tuesday evening as Team Melli fell to a 1-0
defeat that few could argue was undeserved.
In truth things were poor across the campaign for all bar a late 20-minute flurry against
Wales in the second match with a flat display against the US being sandwiched by the
thumping loss England on the first match day.
Whilst the approach here wasn’t as reactive as it was against the English the outcome was
the same.
Iran tried, in parts, to play aggressively and take the game to the North Americans but they
second best in almost aspects.
The decision to start a clearly less than fully fit Sardar Azmoun hamstrung Iran for the first
45 minutes before he was replaced at the break, as he offered almost no presence out of
possession at all and that afforded the USA the chance to have a constant numerical
advantage as they worked the ball through the lines.
When with the ball, the gaps between defence, midfield and attack was far too strung out,
there was a laziness in dropping to receive and making off-ball runs to open space and far
too often simple passes were misplaced.
Compared to a vibrant, youthful and technically slick American side Iran looked laboured,
ponderous and disjointed.
Debate will rage as to what impact the constant off-field scrutiny and pressure placed on
the squad had on the performances in Qatar but equally the questions over the politically
charged late coaching change and odd squad composition cannot be allowed to dissolve
into those other issues.
Having selected less than the permitted 26 players, including four goalkeepers, and not
taking any youth/development players that could have helped the future of Iranian football,
Queiroz also started only 16 different players (some by choice through injury/suspension)
across the three matches.
It was an all-in gamble to bring the veteran coach back to the squad, ostensibly to ensure a
result against America, and it was an all-out gamble by Queiroz to trust in his old hands to
deliver.
On both counts this was an abject failure and the question is now how long it will take to
rebuild the national team after this generation-ending early exit in Qatar.
WHAT WE LEARNED
The end of an era: With one of the oldest squads at the tournament and, curiously, no
younger players travelling even for experience, this has the feeling of being a generation
defining moment for Iranian football.
With the next crop of youngsters perhaps not as talented as those which have come before
it could mark the start of a lengthy cycle for Iran to return to the top of Asian football.
Constant changes/political influence needs to end: The politically charged decision to win
votes with the axing and return of coaches ultimately has proved futile and for football to
steadily improve in Iran there needs to be less interference and more stability right from the
top down.
WHAT THEY SAID
Carlos Queiroz – Iran coach
“The dream is over. First half was US, they started the game much better than us, more quick, better control of the game. They deserved to score.
“But second half was the opposite, we came back strong. We started to close and stopped the movement of the US step by step.
“But unfortunately football always punishes the team that doesn’t score. It’s simple — the team that scored in the first half deserves to move forward (in the tournament).
“We didn’t score and we are punished with the result. A draw would have been a fair result. But in football, fair doesn’t exist.
“If we’d scored in the second half it could have been a different story. But there’s no ifs in football.”
WHAT COMES NEXT
This is the million-dollar question. Ideally, it’s the ushering out of a period of modest success for Iran and a period of renewal driven by stability, development and growth.
Listen to The Asian Game Podcast’s ‘Doha Daily‘ live from Qatar 2022
