Why Iran's plan vs. Argentina was the right one

They had a plan from the beginning and it worked. Carlos Queiroz and Iran held Argentina for 90 minutes. For all the madness that has encompassed this World Cup, this result might be the craziest of all.

Organization was the key for Iran against one of the most talented squads in the tournament.

“Every little detail, there’s not one that he skips,” said Iranian defender Steven Beitashour, referring to Queiroz during an interview in May. “He’s trying to get every little thing ironed out.”

Every little thing means playing compact at the back, denying cross after cross with the temerity usually associated with the “negative side” of football. 

Who are we kidding? Iran does not possess game winners like Zabaleta, Messi, Aguero, Higuain and Di Maria. The only way they were going to get a result, and this case 0-0 is a win, was through defending, defending and defending some more.

The Princes of Persia almost got more than they bargained for when Ashkan Dejagah was fouled by Pablo Zabaleta in the penalty area. No call was made, and Zabaleta did get the slightest of touches on the ball first. The match trudged forward.

The game was decided by a moment of brilliance from Lionel Messi in the first minute of stoppage time. The goal came from nowhere. Messi, sitting on the edge of the box is one on one with the defender, quickly shimmies to the left and unleashes a curling strike past the outstretched arm of the Iranian keeper. That’s the difference.

Not one player, because the talent inequality in Belo Horizonte was on display throughout the match, but the difference here is that Lionel Messi isn’t just a good player. He isn’t simply great, either. Messi is one of those players who can remove himself from the game on a whim, elevating his level to a place above the pitch, away from defenders who wish to cause him harm. That’s what he did against Iran. That’s why Argentina is primed for big things in Brazil.

"When you play against Messi, you know he can make the difference at any moment,” said Queiroz. “It was a brilliant goal."

Much of the post-game banter focused on Messi’s brilliance and the penalty that wasn’t awarded. A small segment of the “in-the-know” types argued that any team would have struggled against Iran today, including Brazil or Germany or Holland. “They played negative football” posited the purists, angry with Iran’s refusal to charge at the Argentinian goal with reckless abandon.

In some ways the first week of this World Cup has spoiled us. Game after game we are left stunned by the scenes unfolding in Brazil.

Not all teams are going to throw caution to the wind against the giants. It’s foolhardy and a recipe for disaster. Queiroz will leave the Iranian setup after this tournament due to pay disputes heightened by economic sanctions imposed on Iran.

His plan heading into this tournament was extremely realistic: play not to lose. For 90 minutes against one of the best team’s in the world it almost worked. And then Messi unleashed a brilliant shot to win the game.

That’s football. It happens. In the end, Queiroz got his tactics exactly right.