Iran’s best will simply not be good enough

Iran have qualified for two consecutive World Cup tournaments for the first time ever

What you need to know:

  • Team Countdown - Iran. By qualifying for two consecutive World Cup tournaments for the first time ever, Iran made the right kind of World Cup history for a change.
  • Before then, the Iranians had mostly distinguished themselves for serving fans dour football before picking up their customary single point in three games, and completing their ignominy with yet another bottom-of-the-group first round elimination.

That has been Iran’s story on three of the four occasions the team has qualified, the lone exception being the country’s moment of ultimate triumph at this stage which came in form of a 2-1 win against the USA at France’98..
Team Melli’s qualification for Russia 2018 was achieved with the comfort and authority you would expect of one of the Asian continent’s best sides, but one of Asia’s best is yet to prove good enough when the challenges are more robust than what China and Qatar provide. Drawn in a group where Iran has to face two European giants in Spain and Portugal and an emerging Morocco, it is safe to say Iran’s best hope is to try and avoid a third straight bottom-of-the-group finish. Avoiding another first round elimination is a miracle that will not happen.
How they play
Team Melli’s head coach Carlos Quieroz is one of the foremost believers in safety first football, so the Iranian way is to sit back and try to suck the life out of games, biding their time for the opportunity for a quick counterattack.

Strengths
Iran’s strength is the ability of Quieroz to organise a team as a defensive unit; they were so mean at the back they conceded just two goals in 10 games in their final qualifying group, and that after managing nine clean sheets in the first nine games.

Weaknesses
While the Iranians tend to give away very little at the back, conversely they offer next to nothing in attack. Quieroz will sure be alarmed that his team only managed 10 goals in 10 qualifiers against teams the calibre of Syria and Uzbekistan. Now he faces Spain and Portugal.

Star man
Sardar Azmoun who plays for Rubin Kazan in Russia is the Iranians’ standout player and Team Melli’s best hope for goals.

One to watch
Saman Ghoddos who plays for Ostersund in Sweden is one of the few Iranian players who will provide genuine excitement when on the ball.

Prospects
Iran’s chances at Russia 2018 are not difficult at all to call; they add just three games to the previous nine they have played at the World Cup this June and there will possibly be two more defeats added to the games lost column. They could surprise by holding one of the more fancied teams in their group, but will not muster any more surprises beyond that.

World Cup Low
Iran limped out of the 1978 World Cup—their first, bottom of their group with a single point.

World Cup Legend
Mehdi Mahdavikia wrote his name into Iranian folklore by scoring the winner in that historic 2-1 triumph over the USA.

Fifa ranking
Iran are ranked No.36 by Fifa.

Coach
Carlos Quieroz

Fact file

How they qualified:
Finished top of Asia final qualifying Group A
WC Appearances: 4
World Cup Record: First round: 1978,
1998, 2006, 2014s
Overall Record: P12, W1, D3, L8
Best performance: First round in 1998
WC High: Iran recorded their first-ever win
at the World Cup by beating USA 2-1 at
France’98

Probable II

1. Alireza Beiranvand
2. Milad Mohammadi
3. Mohammad Ansari
4. Morteza Pouraliganji
5. Saeid Ezatolahi
6. Ashkan Dejagah
7. Ehsan Hajsafi (captain)
8. Vahid Amiri
9. Mahdi Torabi
10. Alireza Jahanbakhsh
11. Sardar Azmoun