AFC Asian Cup:
Time for Iran to move on from Japan jubilation
By Amirhadi Arsalanpour
Staff writer
“The occasion is worthy of a final showdown,” Iran head coach Amir Qalenoei said ahead of last Saturday’s AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal clash featuring two of the continental heavyweights in Iran and Japan.
And when Alireza Jahanbakhsh smashed home from the spot deep into stoppage time to seal a 2-1 victory, capping one of the most emphatic 45 minutes in the history of the national team, the scenes of euphoria among the Iranians on the pitch and in stands resembled the celebrations of winning the ultimate prize itself.
After all, Qalenoei’s men stepped into the game at the Education City Stadium less than 72 years after a draining shootout win against Syria, no to mention missing their talisman Mahdi Taremi through suspension, while pretournament favorite Japan, for all its group phase struggles, had walked away with a comfortable victory over Bahrain.
Qalenoei went on to relish in a first triumph over the formidable foe in 19 years as a “turning point” for the Iranian football.
And that might be the case as the pivotal outcome of the contest could mark “a fresh belief in the homegrown coaches in the country”, as Qalenoei insisted, while many believe it restored the bond between Team Melli and part of its supporters all around the world, which had been tarnished for certain reasons over the past 18 months.
Still, the massive result only meant another semifinal spot for Iran in the continent’s flagship international event and the manager will have to make sure his players are not carried away by the last-eight jubilation when taking on the defending champion and host Qatar today for a place in the final showpiece.
For all the praiseworthy performances in the previous editions, three-time champion Iran is no stranger to last-four heartbreak at the Asian Cup, losing at this stage on five occasions – the most recent of which came against Saturday’s opponent in 2019.
The manager should realize that his tactical acumen as well as the players’ trademark passion and heroics, showcased in the second-half dominance against Japan, will count for nothing, should his side fail to go all the way to lift the trophy, one that has been eluding the Iranian football for nearly five decades, at the Lusail Stadium in three days.
Lineup dilemma
Taremi’s late red card against Syria was perhaps a blessing in disguise for Qalenoei in the Japan game.
Saman Qoddous was pushed forward to join up with Jahanbakhsh and Mohammad Mohebbi and provide support for loan striker Sardar Azmoun in frustrating the Blue Samurai’s backline.
Veteran Omid Ebrahimi, meanwhile, was called into action and did a superb job in helping fellow-holding midfielder Saeid Ezzatollahi outplay the Japanese trio in the middle of the park.
In an interview after the game, Taremi acknowledged the outcome could have been different with him on the pitch as Iran’s gameplan “was in stark contrast to the one that features me.”
It is hard to believe that the prolific Porto man, chasing his fourth strike in Qatar, will not restore his role in the starting XI today, meaning Qoddous could be back in the midfield duo alongside Ezzatollahi, with Ebrahimi returning to bench.
The Brentford player’s creativity and contribution to the team when going forward has been second to none but his lack of defensive qualities has, nonetheless, made Iran look vulnerable at times – even against minnow group oppositions – and that may cost Iran dearly against the deadly Qatari duo of Akram Afif and Almoez Ali in Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium.
However, history is on Iran’s side today as the Asian powerhouse enjoys a prefect record in the previous six meetings between the two teams, including a one-goal win in the 2015 Asian Cup group stage and, most significantly, a 4-0 crushing in a friendly tournament in Jordan last October – a statement victory for Qalenoei over his Portuguese predecessor Carlos Queiroz, who was shown the exit door by his employers in the aftermath of the humiliation.
An Asian Cup crown could be a fitting international finale for the most players in one of the finest generations of the Iranian footballers, and standing between them and eternity will just be a couple of more matches.
In the meantime, let’s keep fingers crossed.