FIFA World Cup 2026

[AZ_HighCountry]

Another failure for the Islamic Republic by choosing a coach that people have been warning about his lack of defensive skills for years. 2 goals conceded against New Zealand is pathetic.

Iran played terribly. NZ wasn't a good team at all. We should've won 2-0 or even 3-0. We defeated them 3-0 about 20 years ago and that was one of our weakest teams.

The refereeing was also terrible. Completely killed the rhythm of the match and overlooked so many clear fouls against Iran.

NZ is ranked dead last.

 

[Lulldapull]

Another failure for the Islamic Republic by choosing a coach that people have been warning about his lack of defensive skills for years. 2 goals conceded against New Zealand is pathetic.

Iran played terribly. NZ wasn't a good team at all. We should've won 2-0 or even 3-0. We defeated them 3-0 about 20 years ago and that was one of our weakest teams.

The refereeing was also terrible. Completely killed the rhythm of the match and overlooked so many clear fouls against Iran.

That guy Azmoon got dropped from the squad cuz of his anti gubment stance on womens rights. Just checked his status and he not even a substitute in the world cup.

 

[Master Chief]

Another failure for the Islamic Republic by choosing a coach that people have been warning about his lack of defensive skills for years. 2 goals conceded against New Zealand is pathetic.

Iran played terribly. NZ wasn't a good team at all. We should've won 2-0 or even 3-0. We defeated them 3-0 about 20 years ago and that was one of our weakest teams.

The refereeing was also terrible. Completely killed the rhythm of the match and overlooked so many clear fouls against Iran.

You're being harsh. Iran did well. NZ are not a walkover team these days. Wood and Just are good players in English and Scottish leagues. Fair result overall. I'd expect Iran to beat Egypt. Will be a very tight group now.

Referee was crap though.

 

[Fatman17]

Best match of the day or night depending upon where you live.
IR IRAN - 2
NZ - 2

 

[ShapurII]

That guy Azmoon got dropped from the squad cuz of his anti gubment stance on womens rights. Just checked his status and he not even a substitute in the world cup.

No, he got dropped from the squad because he posted a photo of himself standing next to an Emirati Sheikh, I think it was Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, right in the middle of the Ramadhan war. He praised him for being a wise guy. Even without Azmoun, we should've been able to defeat New Zealand.

You're being harsh. Iran did well. NZ are not a walkover team these days. Wood and Just are good players in English and Scottish leagues. Fair result overall. I'd expect Iran to beat Egypt. Will be a very tight group now.

Referee was crap though.

NZ are a walkover team. Iran should've easily defeated them 2-0 or 3-0. They're one of the weakest teams of this 48-team world cup, if not the weakest.

If you think Iran with this performance can beat Egypt, you should stop watching football. Egypt deserved to win against Belgium and Belgium is a thousand times better than New Zealand and this version of Iran. We might win against Egypt because it's football and unpredictable, but we don't deserve such a win, even if it is gifted to us by pure luck.

 

[Master Chief]

No, he got dropped from the squad because he posted a photo of himself standing next to an Emirati Sheikh, I think it was Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, right in the middle of the Ramadhan war. He praised him for being a wise guy. Even without Azmoun, we should've been able to defeat New Zealand.


NZ are a walkover team. Iran should've easily defeated them 2-0 or 3-0. They're one of the weakest teams of this 48-team world cup, if not the weakest.

If you think Iran with this performance can beat Egypt, you should stop watching football. Egypt deserved to win against Belgium and Belgium is a thousand times better than New Zealand and this version of Iran. We might win against Egypt because it's football and unpredictable, but we don't deserve such a win, even if it is gifted to us by pure luck.

Fair points but NZ's low ranking is deceptive. Consider that NZ qualify through Oceania, which no longer even includes Australia (who qualify via Asia). This means NZ will demolish teams of fishermen like Cook Islands etc every single time and will qualify every single time without improving their rankings. To improve rankings you need to at least face teams above you in competitive matches and ideally, beat them sometimes.

Also consider that 4 or maybe 5 NZ players play in English and Scottish leagues which are fast paced and high tempo. They have big match experience and play without fear.

As a unit, they will always perform better than their artificially low ranking suggests.

Indeed, this is why Australia chose to qualify via Asia (to improve their true ranking status).

 

[ShapurII]

Fair points but NZ's low ranking is deceptive. Consider that NZ qualify through Oceania, which no longer even includes Australia (who qualify via Asia). This means NZ will demolish teams of fishermen like Cook Islands etc every single time and will qualify every single time without improving their rankings. To improve rankings you need to at least face teams above you in competitive matches and ideally, beat them sometimes.

Also consider that 4 or maybe 5 NZ players play in English and Scottish leagues which are fast paced and high tempo. They have big match experience and play without fear.

As a unit, they will always perform better than their artificially low ranking suggests.

Indeed, this is why Australia chose to qualify via Asia (to improve their true ranking status).

Their ranking is pretty in line with their quality. Their quality is shit, as we saw today as well. Iran's defense was a mess today and any decent team could've defeated us easily. Haiti absolutely crushed them 4-0 recently and Haiti itself is a shitty team. So, no, I completely disagree that they're a good team. They are most definitely in top 5 weakest teams of the cup.

 

[Lulldapull]

Their ranking is pretty in line with their quality. Their quality is shit, as we saw today as well. Iran's defense was a mess today and any decent team could've defeated us easily. Haiti absolutely crushed them 4-0 recently and Haiti itself is a shitty team. So, no, I completely disagree that they're a good team. They are most definitely in top 5 weakest teams of the cup.

Wow, if he did stand next to king Abu-Donkey and actually supported him, then thats just bad. Here in Japanese media it says he wanted the girls team in Iran to wear shorts and look like a normal team and not do hijab bazi.......but anyway.

And I do agree that Iran ranked 20th drew with a team ranked 85th?

That's messed up yo!

 

[ShapurII]

Wow, if he did stand next to king Abu-Donkey and actually supported him, then thats just bad. Here in Japanese media it says he wanted the girls team in Iran to wear shorts and look like a normal team and not do hijab bazi.......but anyway.

And I do agree that Iran ranked 20th drew with a team ranked 85th?

That's messed up yo!

No, it was this story that got him banned from the national team:



He posted it right in the middle of the war with the US and Israel and he praised the UAE Sheikhs.

 

[Master Chief]

Their ranking is pretty in line with their quality. Their quality is shit, as we saw today as well. Iran's defense was a mess today and any decent team could've defeated us easily. Haiti absolutely crushed them 4-0 recently and Haiti itself is a shitty team. So, no, I completely disagree that they're a good team. They are most definitely in top 5 weakest teams of the cup.

Sorry mate but you can't use a 4-0 loss in a warm up match as evidence of New Zealand's actual tournament competitiveness. In warm up matches, the entire team can be changed to give squad players a run out. Most of Haiti's goals were after the half time substitutions. It was like a B team playing out there.

I am willing to bet you that Iran will beat Egypt and qualify for the next round. And I'm not saying that just because I hate Liverpool and Mo Salah.

 

[Musings]

Sorry mate but you can't use a 4-0 loss in a warm up match as evidence of New Zealand's actual tournament competitiveness. In warm up matches, the entire team can be changed to give squad players a run out. Most of Haiti's goals were after the half time substitutions. It was like a B team playing out there.

I am willing to bet you that Iran will beat Egypt and qualify for the next round. And I'm not saying that just because I hate Liverpool and Mo Salah.

Good result - Iran did well.
FIFA ought to be ashamed of themselves. Allowing the USA authorities to drag the Iranian team around - pIssing about with their visas - making stay 300 miles away from where they play - then not allowing them practice - disrupting their whole schedule and then expecting them to perform like other teams that are given 5 star treatment?
Looking at the obstacles - Iran did well.
Noticed the TV broadcasters didnt allow us to see the support the Iranians had from the crowd. Imagine being so petty and blocking that?

 

[Lulldapull]

No, it was this story that got him banned from the national team:

View attachment 201898

He posted it right in the middle of the war with the US and Israel and he praised the UAE Sheikhs.

That manhoos guy he shaking hands with has like 40 wives or something no? I bet his millions of dollars he got from playing football he deposited in Dubai bank too.

 

[Master Chief]

Good result - Iran did well.
FIFA ought to be ashamed of themselves. Allowing the USA authorities to drag the Iranian team around - pIssing about with their visas - making stay 300 miles away from where they play - then not allowing them practice - disrupting their whole schedule and then expecting them to perform like other teams that are given 5 star treatment?
Looking at the obstacles - Iran did well.
Noticed the TV broadcasters didnt allow us to see the support the Iranians had from the crowd. Imagine being so petty and blocking that?

Worse still, the lion and sun flag was smuggled into the stadium by countless pahlavists, despite it being explicitly banned as a political symbol.

Not that I seek to offend any of these symbols of ancient Persian heritage, but they have clearly been malevolently co-opted by these nefarious individuals!

Isn't that just a fine example of "2 tier policing" btw? Iran should send a tweet to Musk and Vance.

(Sorry for the off topic rant)

 

[RocketLaw]

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[Musings]

@Hamartia Antidote
I know you are a one trick pony but can you not allow this thread to go down the normal route you take.