The problem with the left

Iran national team is like a right footed footballer; finesse and skill on the right side, weak control and awkwardness on the left.

On the right, the combination of defender Hossein Kaebi and midfielder Mehdi Mahdavikia move with speed and coordination in attack. In defense they cover each other with commitment and grit.

On the left it is a whole different story. Defenders Mohammad Nosrati and Sattar Zare have been in and out of the lineup, but neither has been able to impress. Perhaps the fact that neither player is a natural left-footer has a lot to do with their struggle. Amongst the two, Zare is better in defense, but slow and awkward in attack. Nosrati is much better than Zare when he moves up the field, but he lacks Zare’s one-on-one defending skills.

The midfield has the same problem. Since natural left-footer Alireza Nikbakht-Vahedi lost form due to a number of injuries in a row, Ivankovic has been struggling to find a replacement.

None of this of course is a secret amongst those who have coached against Iran. As a matter of fact Korea Republic’s assistant coach Afshin Ghotbi, who happens to be of Iranian decent, mentioned Iran’s problems on left flank in a recent interview.

If Iran fails to impress in Germany, it will be in large part due to the coaching staff’s failure to address this problem over the last two years.