Match Summary:
United States
- System of play: 3-5-2
- Strong points: Technically good, dribbling and short passing; good organisation (in general terms); discipline and physical fitness.
- Outstanding players: Keller (GK, 18), Dooley (5), Regis (6), Reyna (20), McBride (21).
Defence:
- Had a flat line but not looking for offside.
- Two marking centre backs.
- Sweeper, but played in line with the two markers.
- Heading o.k. with centre backs and strikers. Good basic skills, many dribblers. Fast switch from defence to attack.
- Front players work hard to help the defending unit; no clear policy. Five man in midfield defend enthusiastically, but not collectively.
- Dooley, the sweeper and captain, dictates the depth and intercepts brilliantly.
Attack:
- A lot of running with the ball and short passing possession play. Use the wings but mostly come inside. Some trickery, but often play in obvious crosses.
- Good shots from midfield especially. Headers of good quality (defence and attack). Many good dribblers in Ramos, Preki. Recuperation of lost balls deep in midfield.
- Every midfield player supports the attack. The full-backs attack constantly and the back players break forward occasionally.
Summary:
A busy, workmanlike unit with talented individuals (small and tricky), but often the
play is too complicated and the crossing and finishing is not effective. At the back
they take too many risk and ball watching is common - the lack of marking on Iran’s
first goal underlines this. A team with a very positive attitude.
|
Iran
- System of play: 4-4-2; two strikers, but Azizi (11) often drops deep.
- Strong points: Technically very strong. Fast, excellent counter-attacks; Defend resolutely in deep positions; very competitive attitude.
- Outstanding players: Abedzadeh (GK, 1), Mahdavi (2), Khakpour (4), Bagheri (6), Azizi (11), Ali Daei (10).
Defence:
- Hold a flat line (20 meters out) and occasionally play offside.
- Zone defence - 4 players.
- No sweeper.
- Heading strong and aggressive. Technically good (touch, turns and passing), Very good and fast counter-attacks. Azizi (11) always drops off from the front line to give them five men in midfield. Midfield play as a unit and try to create defensive block with the back four.
- The goalkeeper plays a dominating role.
Attack:
- Build-up of attacks often by fast passing counters; also good running with the ball (right side). Fast combinations in central area.
- Some good shooting - Bagheri (6) from midfield is very powerful; main striker (Ali Daei, 10) and central midfield good in the air. Mahdavi and Azizi excellent on dribbling.
- Recuperation of balls mainly deep in own half.
- Good support from midfield; little support from the back.
- Very efficient penetration, simple and fast.
Summary:
The Iranians played a clearly defined counter attacking game. Compact defending with
some players on the edge of the box and fast direct penetration from deep. The
possession play was competent but the construction was only a threat when it came
down the right hand side. A team of physical and psychological strength.
|
Analysis by FIFA Technical Study Group
LYON -
Iranian and United States players pose for a team picture to mark FIFA
Fair Play Day before their group F World Cup match June 21.
Photo Blake Sell REUTERS
|
Post match Facts and Figures
3 - Iran has scored 3 points in 5 matches played in World Cup final phase.
Its record consists of 1 win, 1 draw and 3 defeats, with 4 goals scored
and 10 conceded. Iran is the 46th team to win a match in World Cup
finals.
6 - USA has participated in 6 final phases but only twice have gone through to the
2nd round: in 1930 in Uruguay, when they finished in 3rd place (the
highest of their history), and in 1994, when they were eliminated in
the round of 16 by Brazil. USA, already eliminated in France ’98 final
phase, have a record of 4 wins, 1 tie and 11 defeats in 16 matches
played.
8 - USA made on target only 8 out of the 27 shots attempted. The overall
percentage of shots by the U.S. on target in the first 2 matches played has been
very poor: 29.73% (11/37). Four years ago, as hosts of the World Cup competition,
hosts USA made a total of 33 shot attempts in 4 matches played,
putting on target 21 (63.63%).
9 - Tonight Tab Ramos played his 9th World Cup final phase match,
a record for the US national team. Ramos made his début on 10 June 1990 in
Florence (1-5 against Czechoslovakia). Tab has never scored a goal in the
635 minutes that he's played.
Facts and Figures based upon France 98 results information system and FIFA Archives
|
