Match threads in here.
Argies and the Bos. TAB back me up.
Group F - ARG | BIH | IRN | NGA
Does Galary look like Vinnie Lia?
This Argentine formation doesn't have much in the middle of the park. 3 defenders, a holding midfielder, wingbacks and then two natural wingers and Messi dropping off Aguero. Mascherano might have a lot of work to do.
held on well at the end. messi took a while to fire and make any impact at all
Argentina seem to suffer from having too many quality attacking players, and trying to get them all on the field at the same time working as a cohesive unit. I wonder if they could play Higuain up front, Messi behind him, and Di Maria and Aguero on the wings with a midfield pairing of Mascherano and Gago further back. I know Aguero isn't a winger but I think without Higuain in the middle they're just too small, and trying to have Higuain and Aguero and Messi in the middle would probably just get crowded.
Thought Bosnia did alright, and should get out of the group.
held on well at the end. messi took a while to fire and make any impact at all
About 8 years
Any watch/ read via BBC? Jeepers you would think that messi was playing with a broken leg the way commentators make sweeping statements. EG he has lost his edge, he is past it (we have signed McGlinchey). Pretty tough on him after about 30 minutes.
Well, I have a lot of Iranian expat friends, so I'm going to be supporting Team Melli tomorrow against those guys who keep writing to me to ask for the use of my bank account.
Woo-hoo! Iran may be the All Whites of 2014. Solid defensive work against a Nigerian team who clearly just thought they had to show up, but when they did it was nothing but long balls into the box all day long and trying to go straight through.
Is it wrong that I found that game boring because there was no goals (or send offs). I know it wasn't and actually was a decent match. But we have been spoilt so far in this World Cup that a nil all draw is disappointing.
Woo-hoo! Iran may be the All Whites of 2014. Solid defensive work against a Nigerian team who clearly just thought they had to show up, but when they did it was nothing but long balls into the box all day long and trying to go straight through.
Agreed. Iran looked the more likely to get a goal.
Iran looked the more likely to get a goal.
That one header from Qucanezhad near the end of the first half was desperately unlucky not to go in. The Nigerian goalie made a couple of killer saves.
That was actually a surprisingly entertaining game, but you'd think Bosnia will be too strong for both of them. That was both teams chance for a win.
Iran looked the more likely to get a goal.
That one header from Qucanezhad near the end of the first half was desperately unlucky not to go in. The Nigerian goalie made a couple of killer saves.
Agreed. Was pleased to see him get a well-earned cuddle for his efforts.
Never thought I'd ever say "Proud to be an Iran supporter"
but they do have my team Charlton Athletic's first World Cup player since 2002 when they had five players at the Finals:
"Go Reza and the Islamic Republic of Iran!"
Signed by Charlton late in the season when the new Belgian billionaire owner took over - he also owns three clubs on the Continent.
Scored the crucial goals in Iran's last few games that took them to the Finals.
A former Dutch youth international and Eredivisie player with Heerenveen - emigrated to Holland aged eight from Iran. Also a talented violinist.
A nice fit for me, being the son a mother from Charlton and a father from Holland.
One of a number of Iranians living overseas recruited by Iran's new Portuguese manager Queiroz - many were initially reluctant since they disagree politically with the Iranian regime but were assured by Queiroz that their participation could only lead to improvements in Iran and that the Iranian FA and the regime were becoming more tolerant. I noticed women were prominent amongst supporters in the stadiums during the qualifiers (were banned under previous regimes). The new President Hassan Rouhani is something of a progressive reformer compared to his predecessors and there is some relative improvement in women's rights, rights of religious and ethnic minorities, removal of internet censorship etc.
President Hassan Rouhani, NBC News 19/9/13: "We want the people, in their private lives, to be completely free, and in today’s world having access to information and the right of free dialogue, and the right to think freely, is the right of all peoples, including the people of Iran."
16 Reza GHOOCHANNEJHAD
CHARLTON ATHLETIC FC
Profile
IRAN
- FORWARD
- 14 International Caps
- 10 International Goals
- 26 years old
- 181cm
- FIRST INTERNATIONAL Iran - Korea Republic 16 Oct 2012
- DATE OF BIRTH 20 Sep 1987
- CURRENT CLUB Charlton Athletic FC (ENG)
Woo-hoo! Iran may be the All Whites of 2014. Solid defensive work against a Nigerian team who clearly just thought they had to show up, but when they did it was nothing but long balls into the box all day long and trying to go straight through.
Agreed. Iran looked the more likely to get a goal.
Nigeria missing the firepower of Obafemi Martins.
A tenner on Iran to win and another tenner on them to draw against Argentina might be interesting. The Argies should win but $22 and $8 are not too shabby. Been a few upsets su h as Italy so why not?
Haha so I am back to the worst possible result being a draw, up by 5pts with 2 margins and 1 winner being the only remaining differences in our pics a max turnaround of 5pts.
Poor decision by our linesman. Was not offside.
Shouldn't even be there. Part timers.
No way that's going to be the last goal in this game. Fantastic stuff.
I cant see why the BH players are having a cry, the defender gave as good as he got, and then fell over. move on son
Well if the previous one was dodgy, this last decision is going to be very controversial. My first reaction was that it was a foul, but I want to see it again. Still, the goal stands.
Could argue the defender flung an elbow in his face. Anyway the crucial decision was that disallowed goal for offside.
Don't think it was a foul, but...
great game Dzeko is pretty wasteful in front of goal
I agree with most here. Goal should have stood, but that wasn't a foul leading to Nigeria's goal. Weak defending, and it did appear the Bosnian defender flung an arm out, don't see why the striker can't do the same.
Shouldn't even be there. Part timers.
There are plenty of part timers from every confederation at this WC.
That's cruel for B&H. Talk about a match winning save.
Vincent Enyeama. The best black goalkeeper of all time.
Not Messi.
Not Messi.
No not Messi but definitely sloppy...a sloppy blond
Vincent Enyeama. The best black goalkeeper of all time.
he's having a great tournament.
This group is certainly going against the trend of this world cup. 5 goals in 4 games. Argentina have scored 3 of those.
I was going to start a 'Girls of the World Cup' thread, but you lot are hard bastards to please, and incredibly easy to upset haha
And you are so easily discouraged. Do go on.
If Bosnia put a few goals past Iran tonight, and Argentina beat Nigeria, the Bosnians will be even more convinced that the Kiwi officials cost them a point and a place in the final 16.