What a match! i was 14 years, a syrian boy fond of football. I was to go to a match with my school's teammates in the same time of this match but i told my mates that i won't come to match coz i want to watch Australia VS Iran (i was fan of Iran team) but after it came to 2-0 for AUS, i got out of my home going to play the match with friends but then on my road one child told me that noone in the playground so i came back to home at the time of the 1st iranian goal, then after the end of match i ran out crying happily. in the playground, everyone was talking about this crazy match, i think we didn't play, we just kept talking about Azizi's goal which carried Iran to one of the best world cups: France 98. DAYS OF BEAUTIFUL FOOTBALL ALL OVER THE WORLD!
My syrian firends your story make me emotional. I was the same age throes days. As an iranian wish peace and happiness for both nation. Iranians and syrians.
Today is 29 November 2017, and still, everyone remembers this match. I will come back on 29 November 2037 and everyone will remember this match then :)
How much did Johnny Warren love Australian Football. Unbelievable loyalty and dedication. Such a pity he didn't see our World Cup success in person but he is looking down and knows Australia is sticking it up the world now!!
Hey Sam, the goal of sports is friendship, kindness and chivalry, not winning and losing! Loss is not always, and victory is not always! You are also a very handsome and polite young man Good luck to my dear friend.
Hey San , the goal of sports is friendship, kindness and chivalry, not winning and losing! Loss is not always, and victory is not always! You are also a very handsome and polite young man Good luck to my dear friend.
Still when I watch this game remind me a lots of memory I mean good memory from long time ago, I remember watching this game with my parents and other sibling and at the end of the game all of us hit the road, it was national celebration, people singing dancing on street and that was time when I find out how much I love my own people and my country, Love Iranians and Iran.
Both of them with Japan and South Korea are giants of Asia . What a fantastic game . I knew Marc Bosnic and Ali Daei from Asia on last days ... Specially Ali Daei ! He was great ...
Hey lucas, the goal of sports is friendship, kindness and chivalry, not winning and losing! Loss is not always, and victory is not always! You are also a very handsome and polite young man Good luck to my dear friend.
I was 15 when this match held in 1997 . I and my classmates plus our profs in high school were sitting on the ground in front of principal office with a small TV . That day was so quiet because everyone in our town Shiraz was watching this match everyone from young to old praying hard to go to world cup we were obsessed with football after we were down to 2 goals we went to school yard to play football and forget the depression of loss but suddenly heard others screaming and i was shocked it was a miracle because I think that Australian team was better and didn’t expect winning I couldn’t get home early and took hours because people were celebrating till morning next day. Respect to Australia you played very good
Today is 25 jan. 2020, and still, everyone remembers this amazing match..! I will come back on 25 jan. 2050 and everyone will remember this match again ..!
As an Iranian I'd say it would be only fair if Australia went through. It was a historic game for Iran. Aziz's goal was played on Iranian TV sports shows for thousands of times. All the players has been regarded as heroes. It started a tradition of street celebration of football victories which didn't exist before and couldn't be thought of because of the very tightly controlled social space by the state. Iran won only first and foremost out of pure luck but also some talented players with unbelievable fighting spirit who didn't give up until the very last moment although all the odds were against them. What a game! hats off to both teams.
Iran's 1997 team has a very special journey to world cup. The team never won a game in their final six qualification games. They had a good start, but then they lost to Saudi, tie Kuwait, and lost to Qatar to conclude their group games. But they still earned a chance to play Japan in a winner-take-all game for world cup ticket. They lost on a sudden death goal in over time. Then they played home-away games with Australia. They 0:0 tied the first game at home. Then they 2:2 tied the second game in Australia after trailing 0:2 with 15 mins left. They won the series and went to world cup with more away-game goals. So amazing!
Hey kimia, the goal of sports is friendship, kindness and chivalry, not winning and losing! Loss is not always, and victory is not always! You are also a very handsome and polite young man Good luck to my dear friend.
@@behshadruby4483 I am South korean.. i still remember Azizi Ali daei and Karim Bagheli. They were fantastic player.. A lot old football fan still remember them in Korea
I've been to AFL Grand Finals where my side has lost, but nothing will come close to the level of hurt I felt on this night. I had just turned 18, I sat pretty much on a 45° angle to the goal at the end which that moron ran out and broke the net, I sat 10 rows from the front, and saw my uncle Attila Abonyi, partake in the 1974 Socceroos lap of honor, as he played with the Australian squad which played the 1974 World Cup. Truth be told, Australia should've been 2-0 up after 5 minutes. I'll never forget 85,000 people singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' prior to kickoff, this was at a time where the English Premier League wasn't a highly broadcast sport in Australia, we got maybe 2 games per week broadcast on ESPN, and Liverpool's anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' wasn't as popular in Australia as it is now. 85,000 people as one stood and sung Advance Australia Fair at the top of their lungs. Complete and utter dejection is the feeling which followed the full time whistle. I believe Australia would've done well at France 98, Iran were grouped with Germany, USA & Yugoslavia. I'd like to think we would've beaten USA & Yugoslavia. Then in the round of 16 who knows! We all seen Australia vs Italy in 2006, a match Australia would've won had it of gone to ET. While we may have lost on away goals back in 1997, Australian football won a lot of hearts that night.
"Matthew Caligari" That's a crazy story mate. I feel for you, as I've also experienced some huge upsets in a few different sports . I'm an American-Iranian, born and raised in the United States (majority of my life) , and I'll also never forget that night. I was 13 years old and at the time my Dad was working in Iran and we were all living there in Tehran and also up further North in the Gilan province , as we lived there for roughly 4 years. Our experiences of that night, were on opposite sides of the spectrum. I'd never seen so many people dancing,celebrating, and crying on the streets at 1:00 in the morning in any country I've ever been to. I can only imagine how horrible it must of been for everyone in Australia , and for that mate, I feel for ya. I just can't believe that it happened 20 years ago! Seems like yesterday , sounds cliche, but it's true.
Iran had couple of Golden generation players back there, our goalie said once we should took 9 goals in first 10 minutes of game ! Truly different football class between two teams, but hey, 20 years later and Iran still score venomous, today we call it Melbourne Legacy, people chant a poem about Azizi saying he is cure to all of illness people since he brought happiness and joy 😁 he totally uneducated from poor family who played in dirt field with goals made by bricks, absolutely zero infrastructure, our current goalie was a homeless In Tehran worked as city cleaner pizza delivery to earn cash for his football gear 😪
Not sure about you beating Yugoslavia or Germany when most of your players were stuggling to get games at lower ranked clubs in Europe while their players were winning trophies and playing champs league football...I thought Iran were a decent Footballing team and were overawed a bit by the ocassion, they probably deserved a bit of luck... They had gone through a bloody Islamic revolution and 8 years of war with Saddam... Try bouncing back from that... It was a nice Footballing story for them
Well said bud. We were sitting close to one another, I was about 10 rows back on a slight angle to the goals. This game has to be one of my most upsetting moments as a spectator, hell I'm thinking about it now and going crazy like it just happened !
I was lucky enough to be living in Melbourne in the late 1990s. One of the best cities in the world to live in with people from major passionate soccer nations living there.I went to this match because it was a world cup qualifier. I think I experienced one of the best atmospheres at the MCG having been there for other sports. First time in a long time MCG hosted a major soccer fixture. It was full house I think 88000 people turned up hoping to see Australia qualify for the world cup for the first time since 1974. They came so close to qualifying for France 98, yet so far. Soccer crowds are so passionate about their sport and team. I was very impressed with both teams. Iran and Australia played good football. However I thought Australia were very unlucky not to win the Melbourne Fixture and go to France 98 seven months later and Australia were without doubt the better side with very good players in the late 1990s even better than what they had in later Word Cups and deserved to go to France 98 . However it was great to experience some of the culture and people of Iran at the MCG. It was a festive atmosphere inside and outside the MCG. Iranian supporters having makeshift barbecues etc just outside the stadium. Melbournians who are migrants come from all corners of the world who live in Melbourne. I think saw flags of probably every nation on the planet there. At the end I congratulated happy Iranian fans, who are a great bunch of people. Aussie fans were gutted. But it was the night soccer really made its mark on Australian sports. Soccer was never the same again after that night. Even though Aus didnt qualify for France 98. It set the groundwork for participation in many world cups for Australia since and in subsequent WC Australia qualified. Its a night I will never forget and it was a great experience. Glad I can relive it now anytime on youtube almost twenty one years later. Gosh 1998 seemed like yesterday I was a young man then. Now I am getting old fast and in a few years I will be middle age. How the years and time flies.
This was one of the best posts I have read on RUclips for a while. I agree and can relate to most of your post. Was a memorable day for Australian soccer but one I would like to forget. Him not helping myself reading the comments for over half a hour, I'm better close it now before I get further upset.
Thanks for the upload of the complete game. It was a historical two-leg playoff, and it was unfortunate that only one team was able to go to the '98 WC. Great to see both Iran and the Aussies in the '14 WC!!
Video Archive, I am speechless at the end of this match. Seldom have I seen a game change course so dramatically. What a horrible disappointment for Australia-what an undeserved result for totally outplayed and play-acting Iran. Notwithstanding this result a great display by Australia and exceptional coaching by Terry Venables. Very very emotional Johnny Warren at the end. Great match coverage and commentary again. Great occasion and atmosphere.
The Iranian translator at the end of the game was translating many things wrong, he was translating his own opinion instead of the Iranian player. Khodadad Azizi was saying Iran played better in Tehran but Australia was much better in this game. He also mentioned that Iranian team was psychologically down because the the previous coach who was a total loser. The moment they changed that idiot coach and got the new one, their performance became better. Azizi also mentioned honestly it was Australia's right to win this game because they played better.
"rouzbeh363636" Yeah, you're right. Worst translator ever, but I don't think it was intentional. If you listen to the Australian reporters last question, he asks,"Why is it that Iran seems to usually play much better when they're down in goals scored ?" The translator translates the question incorrectly by asking Azizi why it took so long for Iran to finally qualify for the 1998 World Cup tournament. I don't think he was trying to manipulate the narrative , just seems he's not a very good translator.
Just watched the full match again after nearly 25 years of the time, and I enjoyed every bit of it...! I remember that night , those happy people who were cheering and national celebrations in the streets.... Even though I felt sorry for Australian people whom their team deserved to win. They played much much better than us, and had many chances to score more. Harry Kewell,the 19 year old boy, was brilliant and scary .Our goalkeeper, Abedzadeh also was a full confidence goalkeeper and captain who saved Iran`s team. . But that´s why Football (Soccer) is the most amazing game of the world. in this mach always there is a chance to be taken by each team to win...! Respect for Australia & Iran .
I was so happy for iran when they won in 97.those australian did not realize that those iranian players when they play,they are naturally very skillful.
Was at the game and couldn't believe it then and just watching again the end song does this justice, " don't lose your head" that's what the Aussies did lose not only their heads but a golden opportunity to go to France 98 WC. How many opportunities did Vidmar need. Even Diacos the Magpie Aussie rules footballer could have put at least 3 out of the 6 chances missed in first half. Unbelievable!
@@arepas9466 absolutely. Greece played two bad games and one decent game in the world cup and got what they deserved. Australia on the other hand didn't play a bad game, hell they didn't even lose a single game but they didn't qualify for the world cup. Injustice.
Thanks for putting up the video, it was definitely interesting to see the Australian version! Back then I was in Iran, I remember they let us leave school earlier so we can watch the game. After the game everyone was out in the streets celebrating.. The defining moment for Iranian players was when the fan tore the net,they felt insulted by the Australians and that was the game changer according to them.. Later I realized that fan was just mentally ill and has done similar acts in other games :)
I will never forget this game. I was 24 years old that year and I did not understand what happened! Now that I look at the strong Australian team made a few mistakes, aerial play and cross from the wings, if the Australian coach was smart he would change the game system and follow the game on the ground and from the middle of the field, Australia's aerial and hasty game It happened, if the Australian team reached the world, we could see exciting games from the team, but national prejudice makes me a fan of my country's national team....💚
One of the most upsetting games of soccer I have ever seen. Saw it live at the ground last century and it depressed me, watching it in 2020 and it's still depressing me 😡
As the azizi said we played better in Tehran. Imagine an archer shoots 30 times and just 2 on target but anotherone just 2 shoots and all on the target.(6.66% vs 100%) We are fire under ash.
خدایا متشکریم! ایران و استرالیا (اونم کامل و بدون سانسور) بدون صدا و جملات رو اعصاب جوات خیابانی Thanks a lot for the upload. Really appreciated! This is one dramatic epic show rather than a Football game!
A classic tale of David vs. Goliath! a nation coming out of a devastating war with a bad rap in Western media and having not qualified in two decades, having struggled with a thug as head coach, playing under a new coach only for third game overcoming racism and arrogance of a team who considered itself destined to win... It was priceless to see the smug wiped off Venables' face especially after he had insulted Iranians before the match in Tehran!
dar rak I don't think Australia was arrogant but they were very very good. A shame both nations didn't make it. This was a very good game and the worm turned after the pitch invader. And that the Socceroos were not 4 or 5 nil up as they squandered many many opportunities in the opening. A true classic.
dar rak That is correct, one nation (Iran) made it, not both (Iran and Australia). Hence, it was a shame that 'both' inclusive of each other, didn't make it 😉
1969cmp Also, in the game in Tehran, Iran should've won by your logic, for it dominated the game. But hey, soccer is not won by the number of chances you squander, but by the goals you score! :-)
dar rak Both were good teams. And one went to the world cup, while the other went on to be unfeated for 18 games, including victory over Uruguay in the Confederations Cup. I think Australia was the team that failed by not nailing those first three or four chances. The rest is history. Now both are looking toward Russia ☺
Remember me ... I was 14 years old ... I and my little brother ... we did not want to go to school so we could see this game ... but we did not go to school...We live in Tehran...But I like the Australian team ... especially Bosnich ... I would like Australia to come to the World Cup.
Iran lost a lots of bolls and didn’t play good game but they raised from down to fantastic second goals. Abedzadea was great and man of match for Iran .
I remember watching this on a less than favourable TV signal. Dad did buy a better antenna for the 1998 World Cup. I listened to this, as was painting my deck. We were all over them, especially early. The surprising thing was that I thought the disruption happened in the middle of the second half, but it happened just after our second goal. Obviously, it was hard to listen to how we were going to France and then we weren't. The most ironic thing, was thar Foster was the first interviewed after the game. Who would've known he would become the chief SBS football analyst in later years. The only positive was that my Dad's favourite player was our best on the night (Lazarids).
I m from Morocco and i liked this match because it has so much of suspens i remember this mtach it was about 09 AM in Casablanca (my city) thanks a lot for this Great Match , but could you put Australia world cup 2010 and 2006 matchs please? because i love to watch Socceros playin, Tim Cahill-Marc VIDUKA-HArry KEWELL-Mark BOSNICH..
As an Aussie, I was delighted at the result. The idiots running the game (Hill, Negus etc) ignored the greatest coach we had, Zoran Matic and chose part timer Venables with their Masonic handshake. Zoran would have parked the bus after 2-0 and held off Iran. Hill and Negus destroyed the NSL and traditional European clubs and then decided to destroy the Socceroos World Cup hopes. It was the best result that could happen. Man of the match: Peter Hore.
It seemed like everyone wanted Iran to loose the referees the AFC the commentators the crowd in the stadium even hooligan that disrupted the game. This is one the most historic world cup qualifications full of drama with a turn of events at the very end.
Come on Socceroos supporters. Why are you all still bitter about this game? Can you just let it go. Be happy that you're in the AFC and not the OFC. Be happy that you can avoid two-legged play-offs against another confederation. New Zealand has that problem now.
What a match! i was 14 years, a syrian boy fond of football. I was to go to a match with my school's teammates in the same time of this match but i told my mates that i won't come to match coz i want to watch Australia VS Iran (i was fan of Iran team) but after it came to 2-0 for AUS, i got out of my home going to play the match with friends but then on my road one child told me that noone in the playground so i came back to home at the time of the 1st iranian goal, then after the end of match i ran out crying happily. in the playground, everyone was talking about this crazy match, i think we didn't play, we just kept talking about Azizi's goal which carried Iran to one of the best world cups: France 98. DAYS OF BEAUTIFUL FOOTBALL ALL OVER THE WORLD!
My syrian firends your story make me emotional. I was the same age throes days. As an iranian wish peace and happiness for both nation. Iranians and syrians.
بسیار خوشحالم برادر سوری🥰
Today is 29 November 2017, and still, everyone remembers this match. I will come back on 29 November 2037 and everyone will remember this match then :)
Yeah, it was a great and exciting match even though I was going for the Roos. Iran are tough customers.
Australia was too rude and unfair to visitor and so selfish and they payed it out bro
Today is 4th December 2019 .
Unforgettable night for Australia forever and ever .
And still I’m bullying by Aussie in Melbourne because of that match 😔😔😔. I even kicked out of job 3 times when they found out I’m Persian.
I will never forget that day and this game, azizi's run away goal had our hearts pounding.
iranian goal keeper was the best player in this match.
Definitely
Him and Aurelio vidmar
AZIZ was
What about Azizi 🙄?!
How much did Johnny Warren love Australian Football. Unbelievable loyalty and dedication. Such a pity he didn't see our World Cup success in person but he is looking down and knows Australia is sticking it up the world now!!
20 Years later, still brings tears to my eyes. Unforgettable day!!!
Yeah and still Aussie kicking me out of my job because I’m a Persian 😢😢😢.
@@johntaie517 sorry to hear that. But it was beautiful day for all Iranians around the world. ..God bless Iran
Hey Sam, the goal of sports is friendship, kindness and chivalry, not winning and losing! Loss is not always, and victory is not always! You are also a very handsome and polite young man Good luck to my dear friend.
Sam Wilson; WE fucked YOU! 2 goals in 4 minutes! Don't cry, Enjoy it as we do! You lost to the Persian Empire!
@@user-golbarg
LOVO?
Abedzadeh was the best goalkeeper in the world at the time.
Their goalie was not so bad either he played at Manchester united when it was still best team in the world.
I am South Korean. At that time i was 10years old. I remember this match. Korean broadcasters also broadcast the game live.
Hey San , the goal of sports is friendship, kindness and chivalry, not winning and losing! Loss is not always, and victory is not always! You are also a very handsome and polite young man Good luck to my dear friend.
Have a look at the Iranian goalkeeper in 38:30
He receives the ball with one hand!!! UNBELIEVABLE
He's one of the best goal keepers in football history... Ahmad Reza Abedzade
بخاطر پایین اوردن اعتماد به نفس بازیکنان استرالیا بود..البته عابدزاده هنوز برای ما اسطوره و دوست داشتنی هست
Still when I watch this game remind me a lots of memory I mean good memory from long time ago, I remember watching this game with my parents and other sibling and at the end of the game all of us hit the road, it was national celebration, people singing dancing on street and that was time when I find out how much I love my own people and my country, Love Iranians and Iran.
What a ball by Ali Daei! He also made a similar through pass to Mahdavikia for 2nd goal against US.
Both of them with Japan and South Korea are giants of Asia . What a fantastic game . I knew Marc Bosnic and Ali Daei from Asia on last days ... Specially Ali Daei ! He was great ...
Hey lucas, the goal of sports is friendship, kindness and chivalry, not winning and losing! Loss is not always, and victory is not always! You are also a very handsome and polite young man Good luck to my dear friend.
@@iranforever1566 A handsome young man ? No, that's what is known as a beautiful woman.
@@iranforever1566 Called 'Lucas' ?
@@johnnyoranges foverer dummy
علی دایی بزرگ و محبوب ایرانیان است🥰
I was 15 when this match held in 1997 . I and my classmates plus our profs in high school were sitting on the ground in front of principal office with a small TV . That day was so quiet because everyone in our town Shiraz was watching this match everyone from young to old praying hard to go to world cup we were obsessed with football after we were down to 2 goals we went to school yard to play football and forget the depression of loss but suddenly heard others screaming and i was shocked it was a miracle because I think that Australian team was better and didn’t expect winning I couldn’t get home early and took hours because people were celebrating till morning next day. Respect to Australia you played very good
Today is 25 jan. 2020, and still, everyone remembers this amazing match..! I will come back on 25 jan. 2050 and everyone will remember this match again ..!
As an Iranian I'd say it would be only fair if Australia went through. It was a historic game for Iran. Aziz's goal was played on Iranian TV sports shows for thousands of times. All the players has been regarded as heroes. It started a tradition of street celebration of football victories which didn't exist before and couldn't be thought of because of the very tightly controlled social space by the state. Iran won only first and foremost out of pure luck but also some talented players with unbelievable fighting spirit who didn't give up until the very last moment although all the odds were against them. What a game! hats off to both teams.
iran was 10 time better than Australia in tehran.
and had more chances so according to u whoever had more chances deserve to go through
Today is 4th December 2019 .
Unforgettable night for Australia forever and ever .
@@johnnyknoxville4468they weren't that much better in Iran, Australia played decent away.
@@johnnyknoxville4468 you're right bro
This is a game that both Iranians and Australians never forget
thx for share this material. I was looking for some info about players and this vids helped me a lot.
Cheers from Argentina!
Thanks for uploading this good and old game!;)
Iranian goal keeper was a legend.
Iran's 1997 team has a very special journey to world cup. The team never won a game in their final six qualification games. They had a good start, but then they lost to Saudi, tie Kuwait, and lost to Qatar to conclude their group games. But they still earned a chance to play Japan in a winner-take-all game for world cup ticket. They lost on a sudden death goal in over time. Then they played home-away games with Australia. They 0:0 tied the first game at home. Then they 2:2 tied the second game in Australia after trailing 0:2 with 15 mins left. They won the series and went to world cup with more away-game goals. So amazing!
20 years ago I was in the stadium. Always celebrate this day 😊
Kimya Kianian خوشبحالت
Hey kimia, the goal of sports is friendship, kindness and chivalry, not winning and losing! Loss is not always, and victory is not always! You are also a very handsome and polite young man Good luck to my dear friend.
I never knew that jackie chan played for iran))
Hahahaha that was my first thought too when I saw him in 1998
@@rezadeymah728 Relax, I was just joking. In fact watched this game in 1997 on TV)))
Haha yes we had him in our team lol but he was really a good player
@@behshadruby4483 I am South korean.. i still remember Azizi Ali daei and Karim Bagheli. They were fantastic player.. A lot old football fan still remember them in Korea
I used to call him Jackie chan 😁
I've been to AFL Grand Finals where my side has lost, but nothing will come close to the level of hurt I felt on this night.
I had just turned 18, I sat pretty much on a 45° angle to the goal at the end which that moron ran out and broke the net, I sat 10 rows from the front, and saw my uncle Attila Abonyi, partake in the 1974 Socceroos lap of honor, as he played with the Australian squad which played the 1974 World Cup.
Truth be told, Australia should've been 2-0 up after 5 minutes.
I'll never forget 85,000 people singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' prior to kickoff, this was at a time where the English Premier League wasn't a highly broadcast sport in Australia, we got maybe 2 games per week broadcast on ESPN, and Liverpool's anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' wasn't as popular in Australia as it is now.
85,000 people as one stood and sung Advance Australia Fair at the top of their lungs.
Complete and utter dejection is the feeling which followed the full time whistle.
I believe Australia would've done well at France 98, Iran were grouped with Germany, USA & Yugoslavia.
I'd like to think we would've beaten USA & Yugoslavia.
Then in the round of 16 who knows! We all seen Australia vs Italy in 2006, a match Australia would've won had it of gone to ET.
While we may have lost on away goals back in 1997, Australian football won a lot of hearts that night.
"Matthew Caligari" That's a crazy story mate. I feel for you, as I've also experienced some huge upsets in a few different sports . I'm an American-Iranian, born and raised in the United States (majority of my life) , and I'll also never forget that night. I was 13 years old and at the time my Dad was working in Iran and we were all living there in Tehran and also up further North in the Gilan province , as we lived there for roughly 4 years. Our experiences of that night, were on opposite sides of the spectrum. I'd never seen so many people dancing,celebrating, and crying on the streets at 1:00 in the morning in any country I've ever been to. I can only imagine how horrible it must of been for everyone in Australia , and for that mate, I feel for ya. I just can't believe that it happened 20 years ago! Seems like yesterday , sounds cliche, but it's true.
Iran had couple of Golden generation players back there, our goalie said once we should took 9 goals in first 10 minutes of game !
Truly different football class between two teams, but hey, 20 years later and Iran still score venomous, today we call it Melbourne Legacy, people chant a poem about Azizi saying he is cure to all of illness people since he brought happiness and joy 😁 he totally uneducated from poor family who played in dirt field with goals made by bricks, absolutely zero infrastructure, our current goalie was a homeless In Tehran worked as city cleaner pizza delivery to earn cash for his football gear 😪
Not sure about you beating Yugoslavia or Germany when most of your players were stuggling to get games at lower ranked clubs in Europe while their players were winning trophies and playing champs league football...I thought Iran were a decent Footballing team and were overawed a bit by the ocassion, they probably deserved a bit of luck... They had gone through a bloody Islamic revolution and 8 years of war with Saddam... Try bouncing back from that... It was a nice Footballing story for them
Yugoslavia was a very strong team. They were minutes away from winning the group if Bierhoff didn’t grab a point for Germany with his late header.
Well said bud. We were sitting close to one another, I was about 10 rows back on a slight angle to the goals. This game has to be one of my most upsetting moments as a spectator, hell I'm thinking about it now and going crazy like it just happened !
I was lucky enough to be living in Melbourne in the late 1990s. One of the best cities in the world to live in with people from major passionate soccer nations living there.I went to this match because it was a world cup qualifier. I think I experienced one of the best atmospheres at the MCG having been there for other sports. First time in a long time MCG hosted a major soccer fixture. It was full house I think 88000 people turned up hoping to see Australia qualify for the world cup for the first time since 1974. They came so close to qualifying for France 98, yet so far. Soccer crowds are so passionate about their sport and team. I was very impressed with both teams. Iran and Australia played good football. However I thought Australia were very unlucky not to win the Melbourne Fixture and go to France 98 seven months later and Australia were without doubt the better side with very good players in the late 1990s even better than what they had in later Word Cups and deserved to go to France 98 . However it was great to experience some of the culture and people of Iran at the MCG. It was a festive atmosphere inside and outside the MCG. Iranian supporters having makeshift barbecues etc just outside the stadium. Melbournians who are migrants come from all corners of the world who live in Melbourne. I think saw flags of probably every nation on the planet there. At the end I congratulated happy Iranian fans, who are a great bunch of people. Aussie fans were gutted. But it was the night soccer really made its mark on Australian sports. Soccer was never the same again after that night. Even though Aus didnt qualify for France 98. It set the groundwork for participation in many world cups for Australia since and in subsequent WC Australia qualified. Its a night I will never forget and it was a great experience. Glad I can relive it now anytime on youtube almost twenty one years later. Gosh 1998 seemed like yesterday I was a young man then. Now I am getting old fast and in a few years I will be middle age. How the years and time flies.
This was one of the best posts I have read on RUclips for a while. I agree and can relate to most of your post. Was a memorable day for Australian soccer but one I would like to forget. Him not helping myself reading the comments for over half a hour, I'm better close it now before I get further upset.
Thank you Ali Daee for incredible pass and
thank you Azizi for incredible goal.
VIVA IRAN, and long live our Persian culture.
عجب مسابقه ای بود!
مصداق" در نومیدی بسی امید است..." از آب در اومد و
شد شادترین لحظه ی تاریخ زندگی خیلی از ایرانی ها
Whenever life gets me down, I come watch the end of this match.
me too😅
Valdeir Vieira, iranian coach for this play-off, managed only 3 matchs with Iran national team!
Thanks for the upload of the complete game. It was a historical two-leg playoff, and it was unfortunate that only one team was able to go to the '98 WC. Great to see both Iran and the Aussies in the '14 WC!!
Mad respect to australian fan who put this up. Glad we are both in the world cup this time! Cheers!!
It's still giving me goose bumps each time I watch it ~~~
Thanks for the upload. I really do miss Johnny and Les. RIP Boys!
23 years ago😳😳
Today is 4th December 2019 .
Unforgettable night for Australia forever and ever .
Video Archive,
I am speechless at the end of this match. Seldom have I seen a game change course so dramatically. What a horrible disappointment for Australia-what an undeserved result for totally outplayed and play-acting Iran. Notwithstanding this result a great display by Australia and exceptional coaching by Terry Venables.
Very very emotional Johnny Warren at the end. Great match coverage and commentary again. Great occasion and atmosphere.
The Iranian translator at the end of the game was translating many things wrong, he was translating his own opinion instead of the Iranian player. Khodadad Azizi was saying Iran played better in Tehran but Australia was much better in this game. He also mentioned that Iranian team was psychologically down because the the previous coach who was a total loser. The moment they changed that idiot coach and got the new one, their performance became better. Azizi also mentioned honestly it was Australia's right to win this game because they played better.
"rouzbeh363636" Yeah, you're right. Worst translator ever, but I don't think it was intentional. If you listen to the Australian reporters last question, he asks,"Why is it that Iran seems to usually play much better when they're down in goals scored ?" The translator translates the question incorrectly by asking Azizi why it took so long for Iran to finally qualify for the 1998 World Cup tournament. I don't think he was trying to manipulate the narrative , just seems he's not a very good translator.
I bet he couldn't even spell english alphabet correctly!
+rouzbeh363636
Yep :D
It was awful translation!
He was a total idiot who had no right to be on pitch let alone translating the conversation.
How good was the rendition of the national anthem! The noise of the crowd just elevated her voice to another stratosphere. Wow👍🏻🇦🇺
Just watched the full match again after nearly 25 years of the time, and I enjoyed every bit of it...! I remember that night , those happy people who were cheering and national celebrations in the streets.... Even though I felt sorry for Australian people whom their team deserved to win. They played much much better than us, and had many chances to score more. Harry Kewell,the 19 year old boy, was brilliant and scary .Our goalkeeper, Abedzadeh also was a full confidence goalkeeper and captain who saved Iran`s team. . But that´s why Football (Soccer) is the most amazing game of the world. in this mach always there is a chance to be taken by each team to win...! Respect for Australia & Iran .
I never forget this game
It was one of the memorial days of my life
16 years after their AFC-OFC play-off encounter, both Australia and Iran automatically qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup together.
And four years after that, the same thing.
@@Bongaboi151 And 2022.
beautifull.. the futbol is beatifull
An absolutely fantastic piece of goal keeping by Abedzadeh. Hero he was indeed.
Today is 18 September 2019, and still, everyone remembers this amazing & memorable match...! What a match ..!
I was so happy for iran when they won in 97.those australian did not realize that those iranian players when they play,they are naturally very skillful.
Tripping over the ball on perfect bowling green grass or very skillful... can't both pal.
the most important and unforgettable game ever payed.
30:30 Goose bumps. That is Jane Scali singing.
Great quality mate thanks!
I love the reporters reactions how they were so up at the beginning and so depressed at the end.
What did you expect ? Did you expect them to be happy that their country didn't lose a match in world cup qualifiers yet didn't get to the cup ?
First iran goal : 02:01:53
Iran's second goal: 02:05:40
A night to remember for both nations
First goal was sooooooooo much offside. Linesman is an idiot.
Who’s watching this in 29 november 2024( 27 years passed )
December 1997 was rough lol!
دوای هر مریضی
خداداد عزیزی
Was at the game and couldn't believe it then and just watching again the end song does this justice, " don't lose your head" that's what the Aussies did lose not only their heads but a golden opportunity to go to France 98 WC. How many opportunities did Vidmar need. Even Diacos the Magpie Aussie rules footballer could have put at least 3 out of the 6 chances missed in first half. Unbelievable!
2:06:28 11 for Australia puts his hands on his head long before the goal is scored, knew Azizi wasnt going to miss from there...
Good observation. Nice finish.
This is the first time I've seen any footage of the game since I watched it live. Trying to erase that night from my memory. It was gut-wrenching.
Indeed it was. It was such a tragedy that Documentaries were made on this game.
@@MegaasAlexandros Worse even than Greece's performance in the World Cup in '94 ;)
@@arepas9466 absolutely. Greece played two bad games and one decent game in the world cup and got what they deserved. Australia on the other hand didn't play a bad game, hell they didn't even lose a single game but they didn't qualify for the world cup. Injustice.
Thanks for putting up the video, it was definitely interesting to see the Australian version! Back then I was in Iran, I remember they let us leave school earlier so we can watch the game. After the game everyone was out in the streets celebrating.. The defining moment for Iranian players was when the fan tore the net,they felt insulted by the Australians and that was the game changer according to them.. Later I realized that fan was just mentally ill and has done similar acts in other games :)
20 years passed , good old days!!!
Its 2017 and I still feel sick
That Aussie national anthem will never be matched, amazing atmosphere but heartbreaking end
I will never forget this game. I was 24 years old that year and I did not understand what happened! Now that I look at the strong Australian team made a few mistakes, aerial play and cross from the wings, if the Australian coach was smart he would change the game system and follow the game on the ground and from the middle of the field, Australia's aerial and hasty game It happened, if the Australian team reached the world, we could see exciting games from the team, but national prejudice makes me a fan of my country's national team....💚
It was the best moment in my life
when the second goal was scored.
Heart melts! Love Iran!
One of the most upsetting games of soccer I have ever seen. Saw it live at the ground last century and it depressed me, watching it in 2020 and it's still depressing me 😡
فوتباله دیگه ناراحت نباش عزیزم..از ایران🥰
@@Iraniangirls2023 if you are replying to my comment say it in English or Greek or Pontian otherwise I don't understand. Thanks
@@MegaasAlexandros she said that's fotball. don't be upset my dear. From iran
@@mahdifamily1297 habibi i will be upset if i want to - its only been 25 years
thank you finally uploaded both the games
australia had 30 chances scored 2
iran had 2 chances scored 2 goals..
And that's the power of IRAN! Imagine what would have happened if IRAN had had 30 chances?!!!
that is football, I still remember the match that day
Your wishes are our memories
As the azizi said we played better in Tehran.
Imagine an archer shoots 30 times and just 2 on target but anotherone just 2 shoots and all on the target.(6.66% vs 100%)
We are fire under ash.
Scoreline demonstrate the GAME! Not Chances
خدایا متشکریم! ایران و استرالیا (اونم کامل و بدون سانسور) بدون صدا و جملات رو اعصاب جوات خیابانی
Thanks a lot for the upload. Really appreciated! This is one dramatic epic show rather than a Football game!
خخخخ اره واقعا
A classic tale of David vs. Goliath! a nation coming out of a devastating war with a bad rap in Western media and having not qualified in two decades, having struggled with a thug as head coach, playing under a new coach only for third game overcoming racism and arrogance of a team who considered itself destined to win... It was priceless to see the smug wiped off Venables' face especially after he had insulted Iranians before the match in Tehran!
dar rak I don't think Australia was arrogant but they were very very good. A shame both nations didn't make it. This was a very good game and the worm turned after the pitch invader. And that the Socceroos were not 4 or 5 nil up as they squandered many many opportunities in the opening.
A true classic.
1969cmp What do you mean by "both nations didn't make it?" Iran qualified!
dar rak That is correct, one nation (Iran) made it, not both (Iran and Australia). Hence, it was a shame that 'both' inclusive of each other, didn't make it 😉
1969cmp Also, in the game in Tehran, Iran should've won by your logic, for it dominated the game. But hey, soccer is not won by the number of chances you squander, but by the goals you score! :-)
dar rak Both were good teams. And one went to the world cup, while the other went on to be unfeated for 18 games, including victory over Uruguay in the Confederations Cup. I think Australia was the team that failed by not nailing those first three or four chances. The rest is history. Now both are looking toward Russia ☺
38:38 Lesson1: How To Stay Calm Under Pressure!
Damn i still remember this night, i had a gut feeling its going to be a turn around.
who was the girl who sang the national anthem?
Remember me ... I was 14 years old ... I and my little brother ... we did not want to go to school so we could see this game ... but we did not go to school...We live in Tehran...But I like the Australian team ... especially Bosnich ... I would like Australia to come to the World Cup.
Ahmadreza Abedzadeh ist der beste Torwart aller Zeiten 😍😍😍😍😍
Iran lost a lots of bolls and didn’t play good game but they raised from down to fantastic second goals. Abedzadea was great and man of match for Iran .
Rest in peace Paul Williams.
+rusty Is that an insult? Hadley is a hack.
+rusty He was Australia's answer to Martin Tyler. I like Simon Hill but he's nowhere near as good as Paolo was.
+Peter Kehoe Agreed. Very sad story.
For the second straight FIFA World Cup, both Australia and Iran qualified.
I remember watching this on a less than favourable TV signal.
Dad did buy a better antenna for the 1998 World Cup.
I listened to this, as was painting my deck.
We were all over them, especially early. The surprising thing was that I thought the disruption happened in the middle of the second half, but it happened just after our second goal.
Obviously, it was hard to listen to how we were going to France and then we weren't.
The most ironic thing, was thar Foster was the first interviewed after the game.
Who would've known he would become the chief SBS football analyst in later years.
The only positive was that my Dad's favourite player was our best on the night (Lazarids).
I m from Morocco and i liked this match because it has so much of suspens i remember this mtach it was about 09 AM in Casablanca (my city) thanks a lot for this Great Match , but could you put Australia world cup 2010 and 2006 matchs please? because i love to watch Socceros playin, Tim Cahill-Marc VIDUKA-HArry KEWELL-Mark BOSNICH..
Thank´s God Australia did not need more facing moments like that ! The both teams are in Asia zone and can qualify directly together !
I remember that night ,what a crazy night for Iranian people was and the day after I needed to go to national service .
I remembered this match .Australian were very proud of themselves that is why they had lost match. We believe match is 90 minute and ball is circle.
What a memorable game.
VIVAaaaaaaaaaaA PERSIAN ( IRAN ) FOREVER.................
As much as it hurts to admit it 23 years later, Iran played a great game.
38:35 Just check out the goal keeper's skill... And listen to what the commentator is saying... Amazing... Abedzade was and still is simply amazing...
Here in Iran, we call it "Iranian Spirit;" it will appear whenever needed.
God bless Iran.
God bless Iranians.
Peyrovani was embrassing as a center back for Iran. Can’t believe he was starting. Will never forget this game. I watch it once a year at least
what a match was that i still can remeber the match !
IRAN
IRAN
IRAN
IRAN
The day I fell in love with soccer!
کریمباقریبهترینبازیکنقرن ایران
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
yadesh bekheir ajab bazi bod hich vaght az yadam nemireh zibatarin va beyad mondanitarin footbale omram bodeh ta alan
Ridam to khateratet vaghan bache mahlehay mn az ina bhtar bodan. behtarin bazi in bode? Hame nobs
Ebrahim Tahami was the best player in this game for Iran. So Abedzadeh was a great leader.
Remember Harry Kewell and Widmar for Australia, Bagheri and Azizi scored for Iran, I was 12 years old at that time
VIVA IRAN FOR EVER IN ASIAN
یادش بخیر ما در مدرسه این بازی رو دنبال میکردیم خیلی ها مدرسه نیامدند بعد از گل خداداد مدرسه تعطیل شد..
Aus got too cocky at second goal and relaxed this game was a perfect example of The Tortoise and the Hare
I think so.
We lost because of the witch doctor's curse from 1969.
How so ?
@@peymanghahremani7721 their was a curse put on Australia before the 1969 match v Iran that has not been broken.
they are still crying for this game,
Shut up, your interrupting my crying. 😪
As an Aussie, I was delighted at the result. The idiots running the game (Hill, Negus etc) ignored the greatest coach we had, Zoran Matic and chose part timer Venables with their Masonic handshake. Zoran would have parked the bus after 2-0 and held off Iran. Hill and Negus destroyed the NSL and traditional European clubs and then decided to destroy the Socceroos World Cup hopes. It was the best result that could happen. Man of the match: Peter Hore.
Trận này là lịch sử hay nhất của hai đội bóng từ trước đến nay
That was a great introduction Australia had. I hope that they use this same opening ceremony come 2015 when they host the Asian Cup
It seemed like everyone wanted Iran to loose the referees the AFC the commentators the crowd in the stadium even hooligan that disrupted the game. This is one the most historic world cup qualifications full of drama with a turn of events at the very end.
Your wishes are our memories
Come on Socceroos supporters. Why are you all still bitter about this game? Can you just let it go.
Be happy that you're in the AFC and not the OFC. Be happy that you can avoid two-legged play-offs against another confederation.
New Zealand has that problem now.
I think it was a great game. Cheers from Oz.
Australia should’ve joined AFC back in the 90s and none of this would’ve happened
@@luketory4684 Better late in 2005 than never.