Wales 2-0 Iran: goals from Cheshmi and Rezaeian | Live World Cup

by our correspondent Fabio Licari

November 25th
– Doha (Qatar)

Iran is a marvel. Iran is not the messed up and wrong one of the debut with England. Iran gives Wales a football lesson, a combination of excellent technique and exaggerated competitiveness. The fact that the two goals only arrived in the 54th and 56th minutes of the second half, with Wales in ten players due to the expulsion of the goalkeeper, does not change. Iran deserved to win. A first half in which he was superior, a second in which he literally terrified the Welsh who no longer understood anything. Goals on the counterattack by Chesmi and Rezaeian, two goal posts, a beautiful goal disallowed, and so the 2-6 draw with England is forgotten. Wales sinks into its monotony. Slow Ramsey and Ampadu, the midfielder who doesn’t cover, Bale useless and the poor (In every sense) defense under pressure. US-Iran will now be fun. For politics, we’ll see. Yesterday two or three players sang the anthem. Of course, for the government of Tehran, who knows what effect it will have to celebrate the “dissidents” …

IRAN SETTLE

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However, the impression comes that Queiroz got it all wrong in his debut. Perhaps the political chaos has involved him too. But here he rearranged the unthinkable team of the first day, changing four men, inserting Azmoun at the center of the attack and deploying a very mobile 4-3-3 that compacts on the Welsh attacks, and then explodes in very fast counter-attacks. Gholizadeh on the right has good insights and quick legs. Azmoun engages Rodon and Mepham alone. Only Taremi, a bit wide to the left, seems out of the way. The stadium is in Doha but it looks like Tehran: the fans are very noisy. Wales is deployed in the ordinance 3-5-2, but Page has also corrected the mistake of the first with the USA: center forward Moore immediately enters, who gives weight in the area, frees Bale, and creates the only opportunity, with a flying scissors saved by Hosseini. A fast-paced game, Wales kept the ball and attempted flank changes to widen the Iranian defence. But he suffers from the replies on the counterattack and almost concedes a goal: with Azmoun’s support, however, Gholizadeh is offside. When Iran picks up the pace, it’s not easy for Wales.

OVERWHELMING

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And you see this difference in the second half. A siege from the first to 57 ‘, now time for the matches. Iran changes to a 4-2-3-1 that puts Taremi behind Azmoun and changes the central weight of the attack. Two posts from Azmoun and the unleashed Golizadeh, one opportunity after another, Wales that no longer knows what to do. With the many changes, Iran runs as if pushed by the wind. Wales are down to ten when Hennessy makes a killer outing in midfield on Taremi, he could have really hurt him, and is sent off. And Iran sinks with Chesmi and Rezaeian. A show.