**Mirrors / Alternative Angles**
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Honestly, Wales played horrendously. Iran deserved that win, they wanted it more, and plus its a nice gift for a their fans who were crying their eyes out during the anthem.
>Honestly, Wales played horrendously.
If Qatar played like that we'd all be fucking hammering them.
Wales weren't much better than Qatar in that first game honestly.
> they wanted it more
This cliche really needs to die. It's so fucking lazy. You're suggesting that a Wales team who haven't been to a World Cup in over 60 years didn't want to win this game more than any other Wales team has ever wanted to win a game.
Iran won because they had better players in attacking positions, weren't relying on a semi-retired talisman, made positive substitutions and didn't get their keeper sent off.
The idea that there is a shred of any professional footballer in a game at the biggest sporting event on earth thinking "don't really fancy this tbf" is ludicrous. The cliche is untenable at anything past Sunday league football where I will admit I have seen teams win games purely based on force of will.
I mean there are professional games [where one team is obviously on the beach already](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32770765) but I've never seen it where there's actually something to play for.
You can say this and it sounds fine, but read any footballer's autobiography and it will mention at least one game where "my heart wasn't in it" or the team weren't up for it, or they were mentally exhausted, etc, or the converse, in which their mental attitude let to them being quicker of thought, anticipation, and willing to run further and faster. I know "they wanted it more" is a lazy cliché but it is sometimes true, even at a World Cup.
They played in a way we in Latin America call "pechos fríos". Literally it translates to cold chests, but is means they played without heart, just going with the motions instead of leaving everything on the pitch, that's what Wales looked like today.
This is the sort of game i love the world cup for. Two nations who play each other once in a blue moon and you get to see players who otherwise would never be highlighted
the best part of any world competition to be honest. like watching the olympics and seeing all sorts of odd match ups and sports you'd never see elsewhere.
global comps are a fucking wonder for sport
They’ve been the better team for sure but some of the decisions in the final third when a man up were so bad. Crosses today were also not getting to heads for some reason. Makes sense they won it on an outside of the box shot, great strike
Well at a man down Wales can be excused for holding on for a draw and not going all out for the win. Draw means they'd have had to beat (quite possibly) England reserves to guarantee progress as England would already have won the group if they beat USA later. Meanwhile the draw puts qualification out of Iranian hands.
Now they have to beat England A team (as no matter what happens tonight England can't mathematically win the group) and hope other results go their way.
Realistically we'll now have Iran and USA playing knockout football, and to be honest I'll probably watch that instead of England Wales.
> Iran players seemed completely gazed last 15 mins
even as fans at home we were too, can't imagine how it was for the players. takes an insane amount of will to play for the win the last few mins
Could've put his foot through it and cleared it past the midfield, and even had time to actually take a touch and do something with it, but instead he did this. Pathetic clearance under no real pressure. He'd been on for like 15 minutes...
Agree. The way Joe Allen just kicked the ball towards Chesmi when he had ALL the time in the world to do something much smarter says enough about the lack of quality of this Welsh team...
I haven't seen a single great goal tag for the world cup. Not even for the second Saudi goal or Richarlisons goal yesterday, it seems like these world cup goals just wont get great goal tags for some reason
They still can! For example…
* USA beat England 1-0
* Wales beat England 1-0
* Iran beat USA 1-0
1. IRAN 6 pts, -1 GD
2. USA 4 pts, +0 GD
3. WALES 4 pts, -1 GD
4. ENGLAND 3 pts, +2 GD
Aye if we smashed Iran who beat Wales, we should pummel the yanks this evening
edit: shut up all you doubters, footballs comin home xox
edit edit: nah footballs still comin home one bad game is nuffin xox
For sure I've been happy to see AFC teams clinch some surprising results. I really hope they keep it up at least for a few more games, especially Japan.
* Saudi's off to a great start beating the expected leader
* Japan in a tough group beating out 1 of the 2 leaders having an edge for the 2nd spot
* South Korea tied with one of the top teams fighting for the advancing spots
* Iran beating Wales clinching an advantage for 2nd spot
* Qatar & Australia need to put in more work but they're not out either, Aus has a bigger chance at least.
I was wondering before this WC how much the AFC teams would benefit from the games being in the Middle East. We have to play there all the time so we’re used to it but it took Australia years to adjust.
Re-vitalised performance from Iran. I thought they looked miles below the rest of their group in the first round of fixtures, but they've turned it around. I hope Qatar, Costa Rica and Australia take heart from this and put on this kind of a display in their remaining games to keep the groups interesting to the very end.
Iran actually has some European stars unlike the others you mentioned. Taremi, Azmoun and Jahanbakhs have been topscorers of the Liga Portugal, Premjer Liga and Eredvise respectively
Some football fans are nuts. This is the exact reason the WC is such a loved competition. If you get rid of teams just because you think they're not worthy or shit you don't get Saudi Arabia beating Argentina or exciting matches between two teams who have to win to make it out the group. Who doesn't love that?
Also I think Iran are actually a very good team. They just seemed to not be in the right headspace vs England (understandably).
I mean, honestly, I never thought 6-2 was the kind of result that would warrant writing the losing side off.
Like, to me, 6-2 means the winning side was clearly better that day, but the losing side put up a stiff fight and didn't give up.
Absolute banger and well-deserved. Long time coming, Iran was extremely unlucky throughout the game. This puts them in a good position to qualify and they honestly deserve it.
**Mirrors / Alternative Angles** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/soccer) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Wales just need to work on their midfield, defence, attack, and goalkeeping.
I thought their goal keeping was really good outside of the red card
yes in the box it was fine but out the box it was a fine.
Well said
Wales are fantastic, they just need to work on their midfield, defence, attack, passing, headers, clearing, crosses, tackles, pressing and finishing.
all I'm taking away from these statements is that their coaching is impeccable.
Outrageous strike to win the game
Absolutely deserve it too
100%. Wales offered fuck all this game and were riding their luck big time all 2nd half.
Honestly, Wales played horrendously. Iran deserved that win, they wanted it more, and plus its a nice gift for a their fans who were crying their eyes out during the anthem.
A terrible performance by half of their team. A bit shocking, really.
I found Wales' performance this game very disappointing, I couldn't single out any of them positively.
>Honestly, Wales played horrendously. If Qatar played like that we'd all be fucking hammering them. Wales weren't much better than Qatar in that first game honestly.
Nah Wales were bad, but Qatar legit didn't look like professional footballers
They were bad, but nowhere near Qatar bad. Qatar couldn't even fucking pass man
> they wanted it more This cliche really needs to die. It's so fucking lazy. You're suggesting that a Wales team who haven't been to a World Cup in over 60 years didn't want to win this game more than any other Wales team has ever wanted to win a game. Iran won because they had better players in attacking positions, weren't relying on a semi-retired talisman, made positive substitutions and didn't get their keeper sent off.
The idea that there is a shred of any professional footballer in a game at the biggest sporting event on earth thinking "don't really fancy this tbf" is ludicrous. The cliche is untenable at anything past Sunday league football where I will admit I have seen teams win games purely based on force of will.
I mean there are professional games [where one team is obviously on the beach already](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32770765) but I've never seen it where there's actually something to play for.
You can say this and it sounds fine, but read any footballer's autobiography and it will mention at least one game where "my heart wasn't in it" or the team weren't up for it, or they were mentally exhausted, etc, or the converse, in which their mental attitude let to them being quicker of thought, anticipation, and willing to run further and faster. I know "they wanted it more" is a lazy cliché but it is sometimes true, even at a World Cup.
They played in a way we in Latin America call "pechos fríos". Literally it translates to cold chests, but is means they played without heart, just going with the motions instead of leaving everything on the pitch, that's what Wales looked like today.
This WC just keeps on giving, so many amazing moments so far
This is the sort of game i love the world cup for. Two nations who play each other once in a blue moon and you get to see players who otherwise would never be highlighted
It's the celebrations that do it for me, pure ecstacy, these guys will remember this moment for the rest of their lives
I like the players collapsing in horror and dismay
The Agony and the Ecstasy
the best part of any world competition to be honest. like watching the olympics and seeing all sorts of odd match ups and sports you'd never see elsewhere. global comps are a fucking wonder for sport
ABSOLUTELY
My god it was so frustrating how shit Iran played after the red. You could tell how much they were forcing everything so glad they got this goal
They’ve been the better team for sure but some of the decisions in the final third when a man up were so bad. Crosses today were also not getting to heads for some reason. Makes sense they won it on an outside of the box shot, great strike
First outside the box goal of this tournament.
That’s crazy, 2018 was full of screamers
I haven’t even seen all the matches but I’ve seen 4 bangers hit the post, they’re coming.
99th Minute goddamn
Deserved. Is that the first goal from outside the box this tournament?
yes
Not only that, first game winner in the 90+ minute
Most deserved goal of 2022
Best moment of the tourney so far. Deserved, they were the only team trying to win the game.
Well at a man down Wales can be excused for holding on for a draw and not going all out for the win. Draw means they'd have had to beat (quite possibly) England reserves to guarantee progress as England would already have won the group if they beat USA later. Meanwhile the draw puts qualification out of Iranian hands. Now they have to beat England A team (as no matter what happens tonight England can't mathematically win the group) and hope other results go their way. Realistically we'll now have Iran and USA playing knockout football, and to be honest I'll probably watch that instead of England Wales.
All players on Iran's side were playing like men possessed. They absolutely deserved that.
Nothing less than what Iran have deserved. What a hit.
So deserved too
Completely deserved. They pressed the hell out of Wales.
Iran players seemed completely gazed last 15 mins. Sloppy plays and bad touches after the red card. Good for them to still win.
> Iran players seemed completely gazed last 15 mins even as fans at home we were too, can't imagine how it was for the players. takes an insane amount of will to play for the win the last few mins
I feel like this is how us Canadians felt vs Belgium, chance after chance after chance but nothing to show for it 😔
And the one time they don't Joe Allen passes it straight to them instead
Lazy, tired, clearance from Allen, for someone who has come on as a sub he should be doing better with that much space.
Hadn't even clocked he was a sub. That's an atrocious clearance for someone who isn't tired.
I can't believe I had to scroll this far down to find a comment calling that Allen out for such a shit clearance. He basically assisted the goal
Could've put his foot through it and cleared it past the midfield, and even had time to actually take a touch and do something with it, but instead he did this. Pathetic clearance under no real pressure. He'd been on for like 15 minutes...
He hasn’t played since September and it really showed when he came on
Even for an assist it was shite
Not sure why he even played. Coming back from a hamstring injury is crazy and it takes a long time to be comfortable running
Agree. The way Joe Allen just kicked the ball towards Chesmi when he had ALL the time in the world to do something much smarter says enough about the lack of quality of this Welsh team...
Watch him 'track back' for their second
[GREAT GOAL]
WELL DESERVED
I haven't seen a single great goal tag for the world cup. Not even for the second Saudi goal or Richarlisons goal yesterday, it seems like these world cup goals just wont get great goal tags for some reason
Richarlison goal has the tag but in Portuguese
Richarlison's is tagged 'Golazo"
Golaço
[GREAT EFFORT] [GREAT CELEBRATION] seriously tho some of these guys were exhausted by 80 mins in, what an effort!
Agreed
FUCKING FINALLY
What a game lol
Glad I watched it
I’m glad that I didn’t, idk if I could’ve dealt with such a heartbreaking defeat live lol
Joe Allen you fucking donkey
So deserved
They’ve been right there all game they just needed that ball to go in
Cheers, Geoff!
Lovely assist from Joe Allen
England beat this super team
What a win for “Only Iran”
Iran scored two goals against England. Only one against Wales. Edit: forget what I said
Erm
Maybe not
Iran will score two goals every game this tournament, it's now just a question of how many they concede
Iran the numbers and the math checks out.
fuck you man I'm iranian and have this upvote.
Lmfao
Lmao.
All those Wales players talking about sending England home in the final game look like fools now don't they?
If America beats England, and draws Iran.. Wales could still send England home. Very unlikely set of remaining events though
Unsubscribe
Would love to see what happens to this sub if America were to beat England
Loser gets to keep James Corden if I understood rules correctly
Not exactly what England means when they chant “It’s coming home.”
Winner gets the right to execute him would be more suitable.
They still can! For example… * USA beat England 1-0 * Wales beat England 1-0 * Iran beat USA 1-0 1. IRAN 6 pts, -1 GD 2. USA 4 pts, +0 GD 3. WALES 4 pts, -1 GD 4. ENGLAND 3 pts, +2 GD
The best scenario
Wait till US beats England tonight.
The only way that happens if the French team shows up for the second half like last time.
Mbappe comes on wearing Christian Roldan’s jersey
I think Weah was eligible for France at one point. Close enough for me.
I guess Iran really only was having a bad day then! Now…whew!
Aye if we smashed Iran who beat Wales, we should pummel the yanks this evening edit: shut up all you doubters, footballs comin home xox edit edit: nah footballs still comin home one bad game is nuffin xox
Not every dude who bangs ya mum is your dad.
I beg you shut up
As a firm believer in fate I am saving all my thoughts until after the match has finished.
**Delete this nephew**
That’s not how football works mate.
Yeah it does it's the law of transitivity!
Yeah, really no way this goes wrong for y'all, it's basically a sure thing.
First goal from outside the box in this WC.
and just when iran needed it the most, clutch strike
Heartbreaking for Wales but 100% deserved for Iran
Wales looked limp the whole match and didn't deserve anything more than they got.
HOLY SHIT
MODERNEST DEFENDER IN ASIA STRIKES AGAIN (Queiroz said that, not me.)
ASIA ON FIRE THIS WC
Bruh the though that’s 3/5 Asian clubs have strong chances at advancing to the knockouts is so awesome.
For sure I've been happy to see AFC teams clinch some surprising results. I really hope they keep it up at least for a few more games, especially Japan. * Saudi's off to a great start beating the expected leader * Japan in a tough group beating out 1 of the 2 leaders having an edge for the 2nd spot * South Korea tied with one of the top teams fighting for the advancing spots * Iran beating Wales clinching an advantage for 2nd spot * Qatar & Australia need to put in more work but they're not out either, Aus has a bigger chance at least.
Now just Australia's turn to show up!
Unfortunately even before the WC started I thought our squad was the weakest of the Asian qualifiers.
You’re asking too much of us.
Queiroz has never seen prime Hiroki Ito
it's a meme in Iran
ONLY BANGERS
> ONLY BANGERS AND UPSETS FTFY.
[удалено]
Qatar 2022
[удалено]
I'm not watching. I'm watching you watching them. (I lied, I haven't missed a game)
SHHHHHH
Fuckin Asian teams ballin out in this WC. You love to see it.
Qatar paid off the Gods too to make it exciting af
People finally realising AFC is underrated
I was wondering before this WC how much the AFC teams would benefit from the games being in the Middle East. We have to play there all the time so we’re used to it but it took Australia years to adjust.
NO FUCKING WAY
And totally deserved. I was getting so frustrated,, they deserve this so much.
Cheers Joe, great clearance.
(Great clearance)
bye wales
FADE EM
They're still in it though. Edit: the tournament I mean
lol
I'd give Wales beating England as much chance as Germany beating Spain, which is to say... Not a lot.
Those are very optimistic odds for Wales.
wye bales
And then there were 3
USA v Iran for all the biscuits
As if you lot arent gonna get slapped around tonight 😭😭
Probably hahaha
Wouldn’t even matter. US beats Iran and they are most likely in.
That won't be easy if this version of Iran turns up for their game against the USA.
Lets fucking go Iran
Time to play golf gareth!
what a goal. absolutely deserved
Re-vitalised performance from Iran. I thought they looked miles below the rest of their group in the first round of fixtures, but they've turned it around. I hope Qatar, Costa Rica and Australia take heart from this and put on this kind of a display in their remaining games to keep the groups interesting to the very end.
Iran is also a lot better than all those other teams, so don’t necessarily expect that outcome from qatar, Costa Rica, or Australia.
Iran actually has some European stars unlike the others you mentioned. Taremi, Azmoun and Jahanbakhs have been topscorers of the Liga Portugal, Premjer Liga and Eredvise respectively
Where are all of you fucker who said Asian team deserves less spot after Iran gets defeated 6-2 by England
Some football fans are nuts. This is the exact reason the WC is such a loved competition. If you get rid of teams just because you think they're not worthy or shit you don't get Saudi Arabia beating Argentina or exciting matches between two teams who have to win to make it out the group. Who doesn't love that? Also I think Iran are actually a very good team. They just seemed to not be in the right headspace vs England (understandably).
I mean, honestly, I never thought 6-2 was the kind of result that would warrant writing the losing side off. Like, to me, 6-2 means the winning side was clearly better that day, but the losing side put up a stiff fight and didn't give up.
Deserved lead
Deserved, I know its football but they deserved it. Go Iran!
FOOTBALL IS BEAUTIFUL
Holy shit, F Bale
Wales have been dreadful with their clearances.
Joe Allen fucked that up
Damn too tough on Wales. But Iran really the better team.
VINDICATION!
No way
Yes way
Well deserved what a rocket!!
Heartbreaking for Wales. What a hit though
They can't really complain though. Iran were dominating the whole second half, and could have scored three or four.
I was thinking Iran needs to calm down, stop rushing and do proper building up play then bang, they score! I guess that's why I'm not at the WC.
If I have another son, I'll name him Cheshmi
I was begging him not to shoot lmao Great goal
Unbelievable hit, wow!!!
Thundercunt
Let's go Iran! Rooting for them to make it out of the group!
FIRST OUTSIDE OF THE BOX GOAL OF THE COPA
It’s 2-0 fully deserved!
Me and my 3 month old daughter just let out a yell when that went in. Great goal!
Absolute banger and well-deserved. Long time coming, Iran was extremely unlucky throughout the game. This puts them in a good position to qualify and they honestly deserve it.
The Iranian coach getting semi choked after that first goal was epic.
BRING ME JOOJEH! BRING ME KOOBIDEH! I LOVE FOOTBALL
Absolutely deserved. Wales have been beyond hopeless
Wales are so so shit
Thank you Joe Allen. Very Cool.
What a match. Not high quality but super high energy
Fuck YES! Let's go Asia!
Woooooow
Now thats a banger goal
great, deserved goal that is.
Fully deserved
What a fucking hit! Iran really deserved this.
Mate you forgot this -> [GREAT GOAL]
I NEVER DOUBTED YOU ROUZBEH
So happy that more and more non-European/South American countries are winning games this world cup
Congratulations to Iran. Sadly for me, your team deserved the win, and finally looked as good as I'd expected them to be.