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Hamid Estili
We are days away from the Iranian National Team's first match against Mexico on Sunday June 11th . Iranians are excited around the globe about the upcoming match and many are taking a trip down the memory lane to eight years ago when another world cup was about to start in France.
Back in the days leading to the 1998 world cup, expectations were low of Iran. Grouped with Yugoslavia, Germany and the USA, many thought Iran was the 4th best team of the group. Additionally, just days before the tournament, Iran replaced her head coach, Ivich, with Jalal Talebi.
If one asks the recent generation of Iranians which goal they would consider as the most memorable ones in the Iranian Football history, Hamid Estili's goal against USA in the 1998 world cup would probably end up at the top just ahead of Azizi's goal against Australia in 1997.
A while back, I spoke to Estili about the “Mother of All Football Games” between Iran and the United States. On June 6th , just days before the 2006 world cup tournament, I caught up with Estili who was in Los Angeles following a friendly match between the Iranian Select All Stars and Los Angeles Galaxy.
I asked Estili to take me through the days before the 1998 world cup, the three matches, his feelings, the thoughts and “His Moment in Football History.”
Please go back to those days before the 1998 world cup. Your coach was Ivich but he was fired by the Iranian Football Federation right before the tournament. Your thoughts on Ivich.
Estili – Ivich was one of the very best foreign and professional coaches that ever worked in Iran. Although he only coached us for four months, his impact was way beyond his days with the national team. He emphasized the physical training. We worked hard in that area and as a result were able to play hard during the tournament.
He was fired from the team following a match in Italy. What happened?
Estili – The result in that game didn't matter for us. We were testing a new system, had new players on the field. Let me tell you that despite all the rumors, the players didn't play lightly to allow an awful defeat and cause Ivich to get fired. It was just a bad game and we were in the physical preparation stage of our trainings. When Mr. Talebi took over, he continued with the same training program that Ivich had and we went on to have good results in France.
Before the tournament started, what were your feelings?
Estili – We were anxious and worried. We just didn't know what to expect. When I was a child, I saw the 1978 world cup tournament where Iran participated. I'd always remember the goal that Iraj Danifard scored against Scotland. As an Iranian, I was so proud and also so impressed with the way Danifard scored. I wanted to play in a world cup match and wanted to score like him.
Go back in time. It is 1998 It is the half-time of Iran – Yugoslavia match and the score is 0 – 0. What are your feelings in the locker room?
Estili – We played well in the first half. We believed then that we could continue on to play well in the second half and get a good result. Confidence was in the locker room. We knew their top forward Mihajlovic real well and had planed a good defensive coverage against him. Coaching staff reminded us not to commit any silly fouls behind the penalty box to give Yugoslavs free kick opportunities. Unfortunately that is exactly what we did and how they scored.
Take us through that moment when Mihajlovic scored (minute 74).
Estili – I was subbed (minute 68 a few minutes before the goal. A foul was committed behind our penalty box. As our defensive wall lined up and was formed, Abedzadeh (the great Iranian goalkeeper who was injured for this match) and I were screaming at the defenders and our goalkeeper (Nakissa) to cover the open space that we could see from the bench. Our screams were lost in the roars of the crowd.
Yet you had 15 more minutes to tie the match.
Estili – The game changed. We lost our confidence and Yugoslavs started to defend with more numbers.
How was the mood after the game?
Estili - We knew we had played well. We were sorry that we had lost but pleased with our performance. The media was pleased. Soon, we began focusing on the USA match.
One of the most watched games in that world cup.
Estili - It was a very important match. We knew it meant a lot to Iranians all over the world. The game against Yugoslavia gave us a lot of confidence. Ever since we found out that we had to play the USA, all of Iran zoomed on that match. We played all out. It was an amazing feeling to walk on the pitch that day. As you saw, we gave each other (Americans) flowers, took joint pictures and showed fair play.
Now talk about your goal. How did you find yourself on the spot to have the header?
Estili – When the game started, USA had the upper hand. They even hit our post. I was the defensive halfback in that game. My job was to back “Bagheri” and “Mahdavi Kia” who would regularly attack.
The night before the match, my mother called me and said that she dreamed we would win 2-1.In that particular play, “Bagheri” didn't go forward. I went upward to fill in for him. Then the cross came and I headed it just right. That moment was the most exciting moment of my life. I didn't know what to do. I was running and smiling and crying at the same time. I wasn't supposed to score. My job was to be the playmaker and assist on goals.
You were up 1 – 0 at halftime. What happened in that locker room?
Estili – We were simply confident. We decided to control the game and go for counter attacks. We knew that the American team was under a lot of pressure. In the second half, when our second goal was scored, they were attacking. I tackled and got the ball back and passed it to Daei. He sent the ball through for Mahdavi Kia and Kia scored our second goal. We could have even scored the 3 rd goal but Minavand missed the opportunity.
Americans put a lot of pressure and Abedzadeh had a couple of great saves. He played very well in that match.
Following the excitement from the USA match, Iran had a flat performance against Germany. What happened? Why the feeling that you were ready to go back home?
Estili - Our logistic plan was poor for the Germany match. Rather than flying to the city where we were to play, we used a bus. We had to get up at 6 AM, drive for a full day in a bus, and get there very tired. The next day, we were still tired and couldn't practice well and the day after was the game against Germany. As a result, all of our energy was spent in the first half of that match.
If we had flown instead of taking a bus for that trip, there could have been a different result.
You scored perhaps the most memorable goal in Iranian football history. How was the people reaction once you returned?
Estili – Once we returned, people showed their happiness and joy. For years, every place I went they wanted to take a picture with me. Nowadays, eight years later, there is less of that but people are always nice to me and remind me of that game.
I know you are heading for Germany. Have a wonderful trip there and watch our team succeed.
Estili – I look forward to our games. We have the potential to surprise the world.
Thank you for your time.
Estili – Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk to Iranians outside the country.
Back in the days leading to the 1998 world cup, expectations were low of Iran. Grouped with Yugoslavia, Germany and the USA, many thought Iran was the 4th best team of the group. Additionally, just days before the tournament, Iran replaced her head coach, Ivich, with Jalal Talebi.
If one asks the recent generation of Iranians which goal they would consider as the most memorable ones in the Iranian Football history, Hamid Estili's goal against USA in the 1998 world cup would probably end up at the top just ahead of Azizi's goal against Australia in 1997.
A while back, I spoke to Estili about the “Mother of All Football Games” between Iran and the United States. On June 6th , just days before the 2006 world cup tournament, I caught up with Estili who was in Los Angeles following a friendly match between the Iranian Select All Stars and Los Angeles Galaxy.
I asked Estili to take me through the days before the 1998 world cup, the three matches, his feelings, the thoughts and “His Moment in Football History.”
Please go back to those days before the 1998 world cup. Your coach was Ivich but he was fired by the Iranian Football Federation right before the tournament. Your thoughts on Ivich.
Estili – Ivich was one of the very best foreign and professional coaches that ever worked in Iran. Although he only coached us for four months, his impact was way beyond his days with the national team. He emphasized the physical training. We worked hard in that area and as a result were able to play hard during the tournament.
He was fired from the team following a match in Italy. What happened?
Estili – The result in that game didn't matter for us. We were testing a new system, had new players on the field. Let me tell you that despite all the rumors, the players didn't play lightly to allow an awful defeat and cause Ivich to get fired. It was just a bad game and we were in the physical preparation stage of our trainings. When Mr. Talebi took over, he continued with the same training program that Ivich had and we went on to have good results in France.
Before the tournament started, what were your feelings?
Estili – We were anxious and worried. We just didn't know what to expect. When I was a child, I saw the 1978 world cup tournament where Iran participated. I'd always remember the goal that Iraj Danifard scored against Scotland. As an Iranian, I was so proud and also so impressed with the way Danifard scored. I wanted to play in a world cup match and wanted to score like him.
Go back in time. It is 1998 It is the half-time of Iran – Yugoslavia match and the score is 0 – 0. What are your feelings in the locker room?
Estili – We played well in the first half. We believed then that we could continue on to play well in the second half and get a good result. Confidence was in the locker room. We knew their top forward Mihajlovic real well and had planed a good defensive coverage against him. Coaching staff reminded us not to commit any silly fouls behind the penalty box to give Yugoslavs free kick opportunities. Unfortunately that is exactly what we did and how they scored.
Take us through that moment when Mihajlovic scored (minute 74).
Estili – I was subbed (minute 68 a few minutes before the goal. A foul was committed behind our penalty box. As our defensive wall lined up and was formed, Abedzadeh (the great Iranian goalkeeper who was injured for this match) and I were screaming at the defenders and our goalkeeper (Nakissa) to cover the open space that we could see from the bench. Our screams were lost in the roars of the crowd.
Yet you had 15 more minutes to tie the match.
Estili – The game changed. We lost our confidence and Yugoslavs started to defend with more numbers.
How was the mood after the game?
Estili - We knew we had played well. We were sorry that we had lost but pleased with our performance. The media was pleased. Soon, we began focusing on the USA match.
One of the most watched games in that world cup.
Estili - It was a very important match. We knew it meant a lot to Iranians all over the world. The game against Yugoslavia gave us a lot of confidence. Ever since we found out that we had to play the USA, all of Iran zoomed on that match. We played all out. It was an amazing feeling to walk on the pitch that day. As you saw, we gave each other (Americans) flowers, took joint pictures and showed fair play.
Now talk about your goal. How did you find yourself on the spot to have the header?
Estili – When the game started, USA had the upper hand. They even hit our post. I was the defensive halfback in that game. My job was to back “Bagheri” and “Mahdavi Kia” who would regularly attack.
The night before the match, my mother called me and said that she dreamed we would win 2-1.In that particular play, “Bagheri” didn't go forward. I went upward to fill in for him. Then the cross came and I headed it just right. That moment was the most exciting moment of my life. I didn't know what to do. I was running and smiling and crying at the same time. I wasn't supposed to score. My job was to be the playmaker and assist on goals.
You were up 1 – 0 at halftime. What happened in that locker room?
Estili – We were simply confident. We decided to control the game and go for counter attacks. We knew that the American team was under a lot of pressure. In the second half, when our second goal was scored, they were attacking. I tackled and got the ball back and passed it to Daei. He sent the ball through for Mahdavi Kia and Kia scored our second goal. We could have even scored the 3 rd goal but Minavand missed the opportunity.
Americans put a lot of pressure and Abedzadeh had a couple of great saves. He played very well in that match.
Following the excitement from the USA match, Iran had a flat performance against Germany. What happened? Why the feeling that you were ready to go back home?
Estili - Our logistic plan was poor for the Germany match. Rather than flying to the city where we were to play, we used a bus. We had to get up at 6 AM, drive for a full day in a bus, and get there very tired. The next day, we were still tired and couldn't practice well and the day after was the game against Germany. As a result, all of our energy was spent in the first half of that match.
If we had flown instead of taking a bus for that trip, there could have been a different result.
You scored perhaps the most memorable goal in Iranian football history. How was the people reaction once you returned?
Estili – Once we returned, people showed their happiness and joy. For years, every place I went they wanted to take a picture with me. Nowadays, eight years later, there is less of that but people are always nice to me and remind me of that game.
I know you are heading for Germany. Have a wonderful trip there and watch our team succeed.
Estili – I look forward to our games. We have the potential to surprise the world.
Thank you for your time.
Estili – Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk to Iranians outside the country.
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