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The Islamic Republic of Iran qualified for the 2022 World Cup by winning Group A of the AFC Third Round, finishing ahead of their rivals South Korea, who were the only team to take any points off them at all. As a result, as of the last FIFA World Rankings, Iran are the highest ranked AFC team in 20th place, just one place below their upcoming opponents Wales and 4 places below the United States. This is Iran's 6th World Cup, and the third consecutive one, but they have never advanced past the group phase, and have only ever won two matches. Their fixtures in Group B: 21st November 4pm UTC+3 vs England 25th November 1pm UTC+3 vs Wales 29th November 10pm UTC+3 vs United States Iran are definitely the underdogs in their group, but with the current form of their opponents, and the Qatari climate likely to affect the Iranians less, we could see a surprising result in one or more of those matches. Maybe a repeat of Iran's finest World Cup moment to date: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC4QGalDTCU (the third goal in this is extremely funny) Nicknames: Team Melli, Princes of Persia Manager: Carlos Queiroz  Former assistant to Alex Ferguson turned bizarre appointment as Real Madrid manager turned international management journeyman, Queiroz coached Iran at the last two World Cups but left in 2019 and coached Colombia and Egypt before returning to Iran in September 2022; the World Cup will be his first competitive matches since his return. Squad: Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Amir Abedzadeh (Ponferradina), Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal), Payam Niazmand (Sepahan) Beiranvand was the first choice at the last World Cup, where he saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in a 1-1 draw with Portugal Defenders: Ehsan Hajsafi (c) (AEK Athens), Morteza Pouraliganji (Persepolis), Ramin Rezaeian (Sepahan), Milad Mohammadi (AEK Athens), Hossein Kanaanizadegan (Al-Ahli), Shojae Khalilzadeh (Al-Ahli), Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb), Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Majid Hosseini (Kayserispor), Abolfazl Jalali (Esteghlal) Hajsafi is the fourth-most capped Iranian player of all time, with 121 caps going into the World Cup. Jalali is the youngest player in the squad at 24 Midfielders: Vahid Amiri (Persepolis), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord), Saeid Ezatolahi (Velje), Mehdi Torabi (Persepolis), Saman Ghoddos (Brentford), Ali Gholizadeh (Charleroi), Ahmad Nourollahi (Shabab Al-Ahli), Ali Karimi (Kayserispor) Jahanbakhsh is the most expensive Iranian player of all time, costing Brighton £17m in 2018. Ghoddos was born in Sweden and was capped by them in two friendlies before switching to Iran; he may be the only player at the World Cup who has scored playing for two countries Forwards: Karim Ansarifard (Omonia), Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen), Mehdi Taremi (Porto) With all three playing in Europe, this is one of the stronger areas of the team. Ansarifard scored against Manchester United in the Europa League in October. Azmoun is Iran's current top scorer with 41 goals in 65 matches. Taremi scored 20 goals for Porto last season as they won the league, and in 2021 scored an impressive bicycle kick against Chelsea in the Champions League: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmTi9bf6nV0 Politics: There has been controversy around the Iranian team due to the Iranian government's response to ongoing protests against the government and the oppression of women; according to Iran Human Rights at least 326 people including 43 children have been killed. There have been calls for Iran to be removed from the World Cup, while the Iranian government have been putting pressure on the team to drop players who speak out or refuse to sing the national anthem (given FIFA's attitude to political interference, this probably would result in them being removed) One player who spoke out was Sardar Azmoun, who posted on Instagram: quote:At worst I’ll be dismissed from the national team… that’s no problem. I’d sacrifice that for one hair on the heads of Iranian women. This story will not be deleted. They can do whatever they like. Shame on you for killing so easily; long live Iranian women Barry Shitpeas fucked around with this message at 01:00 on Nov 14, 2022 |
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Nov 9, 2022 02:08
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| # ? May 3, 2024 23:54 |
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Iran to beat Engerland and advance. Book it.
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Nov 10, 2022 16:54
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Nov 10, 2022 17:25
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Posting this thread is a violation of US sanctions, OP. Reported (to OFAC).
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Nov 10, 2022 17:43
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Mehdi Taremi has had a really good season for Porto in both the Primeira Liga and the Champions League. I could see him causing some headache for the opposing back lines
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Nov 10, 2022 22:57
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I hope Iran wins the World Cup inshallah
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Nov 11, 2022 14:54
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reminder that Iran has Ali Jahanbakhsh, who pulled off one of the most perfectly timed and executed bicycle kicks I've ever seen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvCZ7E5B8iE death to the infidels
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Nov 11, 2022 17:04
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advanced statsman posted:I hope Iran wins the World Cup inshallah I hope the men come out wearing hijabs, throw them on the pitch, and then the English, American, and Welsh carry them out on their shoulders to the roaring approval of the Qatari crowd. Inshallah, and hello, Habib.
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Nov 11, 2022 17:22
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Iran has good emojis
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Nov 11, 2022 17:27
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Still using the veiled Iranian woman smilie in the current year, real shameful stuff
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Nov 11, 2022 18:10
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I hope Iran wins the world cup
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Nov 11, 2022 19:47
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Nov 12, 2022 03:47
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Updated with the announcement of the squad
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Nov 14, 2022 01:01
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Excited for Iran and the USA to join together in pursuit of a common cause: knocking the UK out in the group stage
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Nov 19, 2022 19:03
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Zoran posted:Excited for Iran and the USA to join together in pursuit of a common cause: knocking the UK out in the group stage quoting this to lol when the US finishes last
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Nov 19, 2022 19:07
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Zoran posted:Excited for Iran and the USA to join together in pursuit of a common cause: knocking the UK out in the group stage Don't forget
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Nov 19, 2022 19:27
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Would be weird if Iran and US join forces though, didn't Trump order a missile strike that killed their favorite general?
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Nov 19, 2022 19:32
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Dave Angel posted:Don't forget I didn’t say England
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Nov 19, 2022 19:33
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UK basically equates to England in the global sense
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Nov 19, 2022 19:39
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Nov 19, 2022 22:08
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Taremi to win golden boot Based on my Porto FM save
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Nov 20, 2022 15:35
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Barry Shitpeas posted:quoting this to lol when the US finishes last Wales Hezbollah England Estados Unidos
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Nov 20, 2022 20:40
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best of luck to this guy https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63696125
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Nov 20, 2022 23:14
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Bea Nanner posted:best of luck to this guy May Allah protect him and the righteous lads on his side who also speak out.
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Nov 20, 2022 23:34
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An actual good lad who means well
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Nov 20, 2022 23:54
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The 98 Iran-USA game was the only sports game my mom ever watched and it was well worth it. Time for a repeat.
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Nov 21, 2022 03:03
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guidoanselmi posted:
So about that....
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Nov 21, 2022 16:08
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The Iranians stood by their protest. YAY for them. The less said about the score, the better.
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Nov 21, 2022 22:53
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It's happening
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Nov 25, 2022 14:04
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Iran will definitely qualify with a win, but a draw should be enough unless England lose to Wales This seems like an ideal situation for Iran's tactics, play for the draw and maybe get a goal on the counter-attack
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Nov 25, 2022 22:32
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Barry Shitpeas posted:Iran will definitely qualify with a win, but a draw should be enough unless England lose to Wales If Iran draw they go out on GD to the US.
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Nov 25, 2022 22:33
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Shrapnig posted:If Iran draw they go out on GD to the US. I don't think the math supports this
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Nov 25, 2022 22:36
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Shrapnig posted:If Iran draw they go out on GD to the US. 4 points vs 3
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Nov 25, 2022 22:37
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Shrapnig posted:If Iran draw they go out on GD to the US. If Iran draw they have four points and the US has three.
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Nov 25, 2022 22:37
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Hey guys I think Iran would be on 4 points if they get a draw, I'm not sure who thought they'd have 3.
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Nov 25, 2022 22:40
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Barry Shitpeas posted:Iran will definitely qualify with a win, but a draw should be enough unless England lose to Wales agreed, but I don't like the idea of Iran passing up a chance to try and beat the Great Satan
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Nov 27, 2022 00:09
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So assuming Iran and Saudi Arabia make it through their groups what is the chance of them playing each other?
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Nov 27, 2022 13:07
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They'd have to be in the same side of the bracket and both make the quarters, so pretty low
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Nov 27, 2022 13:09
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Nov 27, 2022 18:34
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| # ? May 3, 2024 23:54 |
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destroy the united states, please
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Nov 27, 2022 19:25
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