Fastgoal.com <World Cup 2018> - Group B - Iran Team Review

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Iran

FIFA World Ranking: 36
Qualifying Average Goals Per Match: 2.00
Qualifying Average Goals Against Per Match: 0.28
Qualifying Top Scorer: Sardar Azmoun (11)
World Cup Best Performance: First Round (1978, 1998, 2006 and 2014)

Group B Opponents: Morocco, Portugal and Spain.


The Manager: Carlos Queiroz
Formerly working under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Queiroz has plenty of excellent experience under his belt having also managed Real Madrid in addition to the UAE, South Africa and Portugal on the international stage. Defensive solidity has been the hallmark of the majority of Queiroz teams, and his version of Iran is no different. A Portuguese native Queiroz will no doubt be particularly looking forward to locking horns with his home country.


The Squad:
Certainly not the strongest looking squad on paper, with ten of the 23 playing in the poor Iranian league. The Russian, Greek, Dutch and Portuguese leagues are also represented, but as yet none of the squad have attracted the interests of the top European sides.

The Iranian style is not really about individual talent though and Queiroz has his side drilled into a well organised, committed and determined outfit. The three midfielders Ebrahimi, Ezatolahi and Shojaei effectively act as an additional shield in front of the back four, with creative duties being left to the wingers Ghoddos and Jahanbakhsh.

Sardar Azmoun carries the main goal scoring threat, and at times continues to look like a player who could play at the very top level. Consistency has however become something of an issue with the youngster particularly for his club side Rubin Kazan. With 11 goals in just 14 qualifying matches though he has generally been reliable for Iran.


Star Man: Alireza Jahanbakhsh
A long striding wide man with a venomous shot, Jahanbakhsh is Iran’s answer to Gareth Bale and has lit up the Dutch League with AZ Alkmaar this season. At 24 he is approaching the peak years of his career and should he bring his club form to the World stage, it would be no surprise to see him snapped up by a top European side in the summer. Bringing goals, assists, pace and trickery he will be the one player your eyes are drawn to when watching Iran.


Outlook:
There are three extremely competent defensive sides in Group B, but possibly none more so than Iran who recorded a remarkable 12 consecutive clean sheets in qualifying. What they may lack in star quality, they certainly make up for in defensive organisation under the tactically astute Queiroz. A lack of goal threat may just see them finish bottom in the toughest of all the Group’s but we don’t see this Iran side – who many rate as Asia’s best – doing anything other than doing their nation proud.


Group B Prediction: http://fastgoal.com/forum/index.php?topic=2449.0

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