Rewritten Title: Taremi Calls for High-Stakes Friendlies as Iran Prepares for World Cup Challenge
Article:
In the wake of Iran’s penalty shootout victory over Cape Verde, national team star Mehdi Taremi has laid out a compelling vision for the team’s preparation, emphasizing the critical need for competitive international experience ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
A Defensive Blueprint Executed
Reflecting on the recent friendly, Taremi detailed the team’s strategic focus. “Our plan was heavily concentrated on defensive organization,” he stated. “We wanted to test ourselves. Friendlies are precisely for working on strengths and weaknesses. Our main focus was on defensive compactness, and I believe we executed that well.”
He acknowledged missed opportunities on the counter-attack but concluded, “Our plan wasn’t overly aggressive, but relative to what we designed, we delivered a suitable performance.”
The Unmet Demand for Bigger Challenges
The forward then addressed a central theme of his discussion: the desire for more formidable opponents. Taremi expressed a clear alignment with the ambitions of the national team and its supporters.
“The conditions of the national team are good, but criticism always exists and must be accepted,” Taremi noted. “I also agree that we must play against major teams; we ourselves have this desire. However, when the capability of the football federation or the country’s conditions do not permit organizing these matches, naturally we cannot do anything about it.”
He directly addressed domestic critics, stating, “Some commentators ask why we play Asian teams; we are also not interested in this situation. If they bring big teams like Brazil, we are ready to play, even if we concede ten goals.”
Experience Over Outcome
Taremi passionately argued that the value of high-level friendlies lies not in the result, but in the experience gained.
“For our players to gain experience in major games is a positive development,” he emphasized. “We need bigger games; winning or losing is not important at all. All friendlies are for us to show our true level at the World Cup. Testing ourselves against major teams is very beneficial for us, and we welcome such matches even if the result is a defeat.”
Looking Ahead: Draws and Preferred Opponents
Looking forward to potential World Cup group scenarios, Taremi discussed the benefits of facing new challenges. While acknowledging the quality of teams like Uzbekistan, he indicated a preference for a friendly against Egypt.
“A draw is a matter of chance; we might be grouped with Cape Verde or Egypt. But in any case, we must play friendlies to increase the international experience of our players,” he said, highlighting that many current squad members play in Iran’s domestic league. “Playing Egypt would be more suitable for us because it’s a new experience.”
On Facing Stars and Building a Team
When asked about the prospect of facing Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Taremi downplayed the focus on individual stars, reinforcing a philosophy of collective strength.
“In national team games, names don’t play. Your performance is what determines the outcome,” he asserted. “We have previously played against great teams like Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and Uruguay in the 2018 World Cup and had strong performances. A team is certainly much bigger than one player. Salah is a great player, no doubt, but he cannot win a game alone. We must play as a team and have a better performance against their strengths.”