Iran women draw confidence from Russia friendlies ahead of Futsal World Cup
Iran women’s futsal head coach Shahrzad Mozaffar said she was pleased with her team’s performance during a couple of friendly games against Russia last week.
Iran, which will take part in the inaugural Women’s Futsal World Cup in the Philippines in a month, played to a 2-2 draw against the European opponent on Thursday, before winning 4-3 two days later in the Russian city of Tula.
Maral Torkaman, the top scorer in May’s Asian Cup, impressed again in the Iranian outfit by finding the net on four occasions – including a double in the first game.
“The camp in Russia played a vital role in assessing our strengths and weaknesses, while it also improved the players’ technical and mental cohesion ahead of the World Cup,” Mozaffar said.
“We had worked on the tactical aspects of our game in recent training sessions, devising various defensive, offensive, and transition strategies. We also focused intensively on improving the players’ physical and mental condition. However, none of these drills had been tested in an actual match. That’s why the two friendlies were crucial in putting what we had practiced into action,” said Mozaffar, who returned to the Iranian job for a second spell in June, replacing Forouzan Soleimani after a below-par Asian Cup campaign in China, where the two-time champion failed to defend its title and finished third.
“It took us some time to find our rhythm in the first match, given it had been several months since our last international game. We conceded two early goals but as the match progressed, the team seized control of the game. The connection between the lines improved, and we ultimately managed to turn the match around. It showed that the team is on the right track mentally,” added the Iranian coach.
“We worked on the details between the two games, focusing on Russia’s playing pattern, how to defend against their quick rotations, and exploit open spaces in our counter-attacks. Fortunately, the players executed the instructions perfectly. The result itself showed that the team learned from the first match and was able to adapt more quickly to the conditions.
“All 15 players in the squad got some playing time, which was crucial because it helped us evaluate the players’ performances in different situations and against a strong opponent like Russia. These games gave us a better understanding of the players’ form, which will certainly influence our final selections for the World Cup.”
Iran will get its World Cup campaign underway against eight-time Copa America champion Brazil – the top team in the latest FIFA World Ranking – on November 23, before taking on Panama three days later.
Mozaffar’s side will hope to be in contention for a top-two finish in Group D and a place in the round of 16, when squaring off against world No. 7 Italy on November 29.