Iran National Football Team Formation
January 29, 2025
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Starting Lineup
گولسیانی · فرجی · پورعلی گنجی · محمدی · کنعانی · علیپور · عالیشاه · گندوز · احمدزاده · رفیعی · ریگیIran plays a direct and high pressing brand of football using a 3-4-3 formation. This lineup aims to win the ball high up the pitch and attack quickly through the channels. The team relies on heavy intensity to force errors and create chances in advanced areas.
گندوز plays between the posts to command the area. The back three consists of گولسیانی, پورعلی گنجی, and کنعانی. کنعانی acts as a ball playing defender to start attacks, while پورعلی گنجی covers the space on the left side. گولسیانی provides aerial strength to defend set pieces and clears the lines when under pressure. This unit stays compact to prevent runners from getting behind.
A central pairing of ریگی and رفیعی makes up the heart of the midfield. ریگی works to shield the defence and break up play, while رفیعی looks to carry the ball forward to link the lines. The wide players فرجی and محمدی operate as wing backs to provide width. فرجی pushes up to overlap the winger on the right, whereas محمدی tracks back to help the defence while also looking to cross from the left.
The attacking trident uses width to stretch the defence. عالیشاه stays wide on the left to pull defenders out of position, while احمدزاده cuts inside from the right to find space. علیپور acts as the main striker to hold up the ball and link up with the wide players. The forwards press the opposition back line to force long balls. This combination of players creates runs in behind and allows for quick transitions.
One major advantage for Iran is the ability to press high in coordinated waves. The front three and the wing backs can squeeze the space to win it back high up the pitch. Another strength is the numerical superiority in the wide areas when فرجی and احمدزاده move together. This creates overloads that are difficult for a back four to manage.
This 3-4-3 formation provides a strong platform for high intensity pressing and rapid attacking transitions. It is best suited for games where the team needs to overwhelm a side that plays out from the back.