Parsfootball.com and Irankicks.com) Over the next nine days, Iran will face two opponents on her way to qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Many suggest that if Iran earns 4 points from these two games and the match against Japan, Iran would qualify. While that may true, 4 points is not sufficient long term if one would study the big picture.
The Iranian national team is at a stage of the qualification competition that controls her own destiny and the simple qualification has good odds behind it.
The fact is that the top two teams of each Asian group qualify for Germany and even the third place team has a shot. It is not hard to agree then that Iran has a very good chance to qualify. Qualification is a matter of execution and not luck.
That is not enough.
Iran must play convincingly and come on the top of her group. The reasons are actually not that complex.
The 32 nations, who would qualify for 2006 World Cup, will be placed in 4 pots. It means that eight teams would be ranked as first, eight as second, eight as third and eight as fourth.
Teams placed in the 4th rank pot will have the most difficult time to qualify for the next round and typically they would fail to qualify. Based on the current structure of the nations grouping, the likely teams placed in the 4th rank pot are:
- Asia 3rd and Asia 4th (second place finishes in each group of Asia) - Asia 5th vs. CONCAF 4th - CONCAF 3rd - South America 5th vs. Oceania - South America 4th - Africa 4th and 5th
Additionally, the FIFA ranking, with all its flaws and arguments, would play a part. As a result, staying in FIFA"s top 20 ranking has a great benefit for Iran come pot assignments.
Reviewing above, one could see that if Iran would complete the qualifications on top of her group, she would be placed in the 3rd pot and therefore would have an increased possibility to qualify for the round of 16. In such scenario, we would likely have Chile/Paraguay/Australia or Guatemala/Costa Rica/Panama or Ivory Coast/Togo in our group.
One last point on the likely opponents that is worth mentioning is about Israel. If Israel qualifies for the World Cup, she would be likely placed in the 3rd pot. Getting assigned in the 3rd pot means that there would be no chance for Iran to have to face Israel in the group stage and therefore we would not have to debate the mind boggling scenario of What IF…
For all of those who may say wait until we qualify and then worry about this topic, I say, think strategically, plan and execute. Tournaments are all about planning and execution. We must go strong for all 9 points but 7 points would suffice to win the group.
A victory against North Korea is a must and very much expected.
A victory against Bahrain is a must and very much desired.
At such point, a tie on the road against Japan would be sufficient for the group title regardless of how Japan would do in her other 2 matches.
Our nation wants a great victory against Bahrain. That match has tremendous emotional pressure and value tied to it. We must equally be determined to defeat North Korea.
It is not just about qualifying.
It is about positioning ourselves to advance to the round of 16.
It is about believing in your skills and abilities and not leaving outcome to chance and what ifs.
It is about the winning attitude and desire to succeed.
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:جستجو