2002 World Cup Qualifiers (November 2000)

Just a month after the Asian Championship, Iran took part in the qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup. The Brazilian Ademar Braga was now head coach although his reign would be short. He made few changes to the existing cast of players and anticipated few problems against Iran’s first round opponents Guam and Tajikistan, with the only leg of the games being played Tabriz. Iran would break its previous record which it had set against Maldives in 1997 by defeating Guam 19-0. Bagheri (6), Karimi (4), Majidi (3), Daei (3), Bakhtiarizadeh (2) and Nikbakht would all contribute to the goal fest. 

With goals by Daei and Hasheminasab Iran would defeat Tajikistan 2-0 to advance to the final round of qualification.

In spite of obtaining perfect results Braga would be replaced and instead Miroslav Blazevic who had just guided Croatia to a bronze medal in the previous World Cup.

During preparations tensions arose between Blazevic and Azizi that would ultimately lead to Azizi playing no role in the qualifying campaign. During a scrimmage, Azizi found his number 11 jersey given to another player and questioned the coach about it. Blazevic indicated that he needs to earn his jersey. Azizi took exception to the comment and while there was some confusion as to whether he walked away from the camp or was axed by the coach due to the confrontation, the end result would be Azizi’s absence from the upcoming games.

Iran would face Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Thailand in this round with only the top team guaranteed a World Cup spot and the runner-up having to go through a playoff route. Blazevic introduced a few new player such as Mirzapour in goal, Rezaei in defense and Nekounam in midfield but otherwise stuck with the existing players. Iran would open its campaign against its main rival Saudi Arabia in Tehran. 

Azadi was packed to the brim as the teams took the field. 

In spite of some close chances and crown support, Iran failed to score in the first half. Early in the second half Daei’s through-ball sent Nikbakht goal-bound where he was taken down by the Saudi keeper. Daei would convert the resulting kick. 

A short time later Daei would receive the ball at the edge of the box, twist his defender out of position and slam home his and Iran’s second goal in off of the post. Iran would win 2-0 and take a firm step forward in its qualifying campaign. 

Iran would then travel to Bangkok to face Thailand. In spite of coming off of a good performance in the first game, Iran was lucky not lo lose against a host that had more of the chances and in the end settled for a scoreless draw. 

Iran would then face Iraq in Baghdad. 

Following a miskicked goalkick, Iraq quickly attacked and after Mirzapour’s unsuccessful exit and his defenders’ failure to contain the rebound of his original save, Iraq opened Iran’s empty net. Iraq’s lead would only last 10 minutes as Nikbakht would dribble into the box and lay the ball off for Karimi in the six-yard box to equalize. In the second half both teams had chances although Daei’s shot with only six minutes left would the only one that mattered as Iran would claw out a 2-1 win. 

Iran would return to Azadi to face Bahrain, a team that was traditionally inferior on the pitch.

But a disorganized performance, missed chances (including a Golmohammadi goal incorrectly called back for offside) and overt time wasting by the Bahrainis resulted in another 0-0 tie. At the end of the first round of games Iran lead the table with eight points.

Iran would start the return legs away at Saudi Arabia. 

The hosts began in offensive fashion and after 20 minutes, following Golmohammadi’s foul earned a penalty. The Saudies would convert score the ensuing shot and take the lead. Shortly before halftime Iran would equalize after Daei headed Mahdavikia’s cross into the net. Following the equalizer the Saudies increased their pressure and managed to score again with a shot from inside the box. With six minutes left, DInmohammadi took advantage of a mixup between two Saudi players to once again tie the game up, a result that would stand until the final whistle. 

Following the game Blazevic declared Iran’s spot in the World Cup was assured and promised qualification. In Azadi against Thailand, a Karimi run and backheel gifted Nikbakht with a perfect opportunity to bury his shot and give Iran a 1-0 lead. 

In spite of more opportunities and an attacking game Iran failed to score again and the game would end 1-0. 

Iran would host Iraq next. 

In the 27^th minute, Karimi’s run and pass in the box set up Mahdavikia to one-time his shot in the back of the net. Iraq, playing in the Iranian capital for the first time in 25 years, refused to buckle under the pressure and early in the second half they equalized off of a corner kick. But Mahdavikia and Karimi would once again combine for a goal. This time Mahdavikia broke down the right, cut inside and as the Iraqi keeper tried to close him down, slotted the ball to Karimi who scored from close range. Iran would win 2-1 and now with only one game remaining controlled its own destiny. 

A win in the last game against Bahrain would clinch a spot in the World Cup. 

An already eliminated Bahrain would take the lead against Iran in the 8^th minute. Bahrain would double their lead before halftime with a well timed run and shot. With Saudi Arabia simultaneously leading Thailand, nothing short of a win would assure first place for Iran and as such Iran approached the second half offensively in search of the three goals that it needed. In the 82^nd minute Daei would eventually score off of a rebound but before any thoughts of a comeback could materialize, Bahrain would put the game away with a long range shot and weak reaction by Mirzapour. The game was peppered with time wasting tactics from Bahrain and two red cards for Iran and one for Bahrain. 

After the game and their 3-1 win, to rub salt in Iran’s wounds, Bahraini players ran around the field waving the Saudi flag, as the combination of scores now meant Saudi Arabia had qualified at Iran’s expense.

Much like four years earlier, Iran would now have to go through a playoff with the first step being facing the other group’s runner-up UAE home and away. Without a suspended Daei, Iran would first host UAE in Azadi. 

Iran was the better team with the UAE keeper saving many shots and Jamshidi hitting the post. Bagheri would eventually open the scoring with a long range shot from outside the box and the game would end 1-0. 

Six days later he teams would line up for the return match in Abu Dhabi.

Daei would open the scoring by converting a freekick in the 7^th minute. 

In the second half Bagheri would once again score from another long range shot and minutes later Minavand would round up the scoring for a 3-0 win. 

The 4-0 aggregate win would now pit Iran against the Republic or Ireland with the winner advancing to the World Cup.

With the first leg being played in Dublin, Mirzapour was called into action frequently.

Ireland would finally take the lead late in the first half after Rezaei brought down McAteer in the box and Harte converted a penalty kick past Mirzapour. 

Twice Robbie Keane was close before he finally scored in the second half. A freekick was spun from the right into the crowded goalmouth, a posse of defenders knocked it away from Niall Quinn and Keane controlled it quickly before rifling the ball home from 22 yards. 

Irish keeper Shay Given performed heroics to ensure the clean sheet. His two second half saves in the space of a couple of minutes from Karimi were remarkable and hugely influential. Karimi powered away from an Irish defender and bore down unopposed on goal, only for Given to make a superbly-timed save at his feet. 

Moments later, Breen allowed Karimi to run across him on the way to unleashing a low shot which Given again saved brilliantly. Ultimately Iran would lose 2-0 and need a big win in Azadi to make up for the deficit.

A packed Azadi Stadium awaited Ireland. 

A huge banner strung across one end of the stadium read 3-0, the score that would allow Iran to make the finals. 

The first 20 minutes were drab with neither team offering much, perhaps feeling the initial pressure. The only scoring chance for either team in the first half came in the 34^th minute when Karimi headed just wide from seven meters out. Iran had a number of chances in the second half beginning when Daei took a cross in the box and shot just wide from 16 meters. A minute later Ireland had its best chance of the game but hit the side netting. Bagheri would fire a low, left-footed shot that Given sprawled to save and subsequently got up on his feet to foil Daei lurking to poke home the rebound. Midway through the second half the spectators began showing their displeasure with the result and performance via chants, smoke bombs and throwing water bottles on the field. Iran would threaten again in the 66^th minute with Given again deflecting away a 25-meter drive from Minavand. Late in the game Mahdavikia slid the ball through the area but just behind Daei's outstretched foot for a chance to go begging. Finally Golmohammadi scored on a close range header off a free kick from Mahdavikia just over a minute into injury time. At the final whistle Iran had won 1-0 although the aggregate score was a 2-1 defeat. With the World Cup dream failing to materialize, Iranian players sank to the turf, holding their heads in their hands and openly weeping.