The past year has seen the Team Melli setup alternating between three formations: the 4-3-3, the 4-1-4-1 and the 4-4-2. All three have their merits, with the 4-1-4-1 winning favor with Carlos Queiroz during the World Cup. The formation itself can be very fluid depending on the tactics, resulting in any of the three formations during a game. Iran's football style can be summarized by absorbing and applying pressure when possible. Possession isn't about quantity, but quality. A play style which has cemented Iranian football into its counterattacking style.
Depending on the tactics, different players can suit different roles. A national team manager can't buy new players, making their tactics dependent on the skill set at hand. The direction of the Iranian starting eleven is very well suited to a 4-4-1-1 formation; in which two banks of four are led by a striker and secondary striker. In a counter attack, the formation could shift a variety of ways. An example of a starting eleven shifting in this formation is below:
Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand has become famous for his long throws and passing, and when they work out, they look great in highlight reels. The issue is that they often don't reach the intended target, with a numerical majority either being intercepted or going out of bounds. Beiranvand's distribution for short passes, however, is significantly better. A trait which is complemented by the defenders in the back line.
There are two potential routes for Beiranvand: Keeping it central by passing the ball to Majid Hosseini or pushing it out to the wing to either Mohammadi or Moharrami. Shifting the ball wide would require either Mohammadi or Moharrami to play it forward to a winger or make a run themselves down the pitch with the intention of crossing it into the box. The wide counter attack is a safe method and can usually be successful in getting the ball closer to the opposition box.
The other option for Beiranvand is a central pass to Majid Hosseini. The skillset of Hosseini is unique in that he tends to have one of the best passing rates on the field; a stat complemented by his ball control and his ability to send accurate long balls. An attack starting with Hosseini can have a ball either reach one of the wingers(Jahanbakhsh or Amiri) or go centrally to secondary striker Saman Ghoddos. The respective receiver of the ball can either pass the ball to the target man up top(Azmoun, Rezaei, etc.) or pass it to another member of the front three in the hopes of other players making a run. Hosseini has the ball control to keep the ball away from immediate danger, and will only improve his weaknesses as he develops in his new team.
Saman Ghoddos is perhaps the most important piece to the puzzle. Nothing is perfect in football. Players may be out of position or find themselves in a difficult situation to make a run. Ghoddos offers a versatility in that he can operate in any of the four positions up top. Should a winger not break fast enough, or a target man struggle to get into position, Ghoddos can fill the gap and allow the counter attack to flow freely. Ghoddos potentially offers the most involvement in goal-scoring out of the front four players. Whoscored lists Saman's strengths as holding the ball, dribbling, passing, key passes, and long shots. All of which are visible when watching him play and important to executing a counter attack. Ghoddos can act like an attacking metronome and set up each attack for success. His game IQ is one of the highest on the team, and his strengths should be utilized in setting up attacks. Whether its having Ghoddos deliver a perfectly weighted ball or have him strike from outside the box, his services are irreplaceable and necessary.
The midfielders play an interesting role in this situation. Hajsafi and Ezatolahi are both defensive minded in comparison to the wider midfielders and forwards. In a counter-attacking scenario, the two should drop deep in midfield so that they can mitigate a potential turnover and force the other team's players wide should they receive the ball. The other team being forced wide will allow for defenders across the back line to get back and defend against any incoming crosses from out wide.
Iran's performance at the World Cup showed that the team is capable of more than parking the bus for a 0-0 scoreline. There is quality attacking potential in the side that is still being figured out, but once it is found it should be exploited to the fullest. Team Melli is defensive and cautious in nature. A playstyle criticized by some, but in reality, it can be pivotal towards success. Queiroz's Iran side has evolved as a result of not only improved tactics, but an improved squad. The new Team Melli is beginning to mimic Simeone's Atletico side more so than Berydev's Rubin Kazan. The Asian Cup will be the first test of whether one of the strongest Iran sides in recent history can translate their quality on paper to the pitch.