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Three days after they were humbled 6-2 by a rampant England in their Group B opener, Iran’s World Cup hopes are on the line as they face Wales at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Doha.
Only once in their previous five World Cup outings have Iran lost both their opening matches and to do so here would not only almost certainly send them home but also spark some serious soul searching back in Tehran as to how things fell apart.
A timid display, punctured only by two Mehdi Taremi goals, has already had the critics circling but once again it’s the off-field issues back home that have dominated the buildup.
Manager Carlos Queiroz is at pains to be respectful in front of the world’s press, but once again questioned why it is only Iran that has been thrust in the spotlight over human rights issues when there are plenty of, indeed almost all, nations at this tournament that also have significant issues.
Both the manager and star forward Mehdi Taremi pleaded that the team be allowed to focus on football with the latter saying they hadn’t been able to do that in the buildup to the opening match.
Queiroz has promised a more attacking display but it’s hard to see a coach that rarely takes too many risks going all out against a Wales side that they’re facing for just the second time after the only previous encounter was a 1-0 friendly win by the Welsh way back in 1978.
What is likely, though, is some changes in a bid to freshen up the team, both in defence and attack, although fitness concerns linger around goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand (who was concussed against England) and Sardar Azmoun, with the influential forward looking sluggish in a cameo off the bench.
Aside from Taremi, improvement is needed right across the pitch and that could see the likes of Saeid Ezatolahi and Sardar Azmoun handed starts in what could mark the end of an era for an ageing Team Melli should they lose to a second European nation in four days.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
MEHDI TAREMI – In a dismal opening game the undoubted bright spot was the prolific forward’s contribution with a fine solo goal midway through the second half and then a penalty late on. Able to cause trouble in the tightest of spaces, once again the 30-year-old Portuguese-based forward looms as Iran’s main goal threat.
ALIREZA JAHANBAKHSH – Iran need goals and have already promised to be far more aggressive than they were against England and, if he holds his place amongst some possible changes, then the 29-year-old winger Jahanbakhsh will need to be one of the main creative outlets.
SAEID EZATOLAHI – Having been introduced off the bench at the break in the previous match, the central midfielder could be in line to start here. The talent is there and when he’s fit and in form he’s a controlling presence in the middle of the pitch, unfortunately both of those elements come with significant question marks but the risks could be worth it in a must-win match.
WHAT THEY SAID
Carlos Queiroz – Iran Coach
“What happened yesterday doesn’t change tomorrow unless we take lessons from that and I hope we can express our football better, control the game with more possession, keep the ball and surprise Wales, this is our dream.
“Of course people have the right to ask questions, but I think it’s not fair that we are the only ones with these questions when there are plenty of other countries with issues in their country and also around the world.
“Let the players play football, for their fans the same as the English and the Americans do, the players are not the enemies of the supporters.”
Mehdi Taremi – Iran Forward
“The first game was not football because of so many issues that existed and our game starts now and we have to play these games and gain six points to make our people happy and that’s why we’re all here together.
“I said we don’t want to talk about politics, we are here to play football and not talk about everything that happens on the sidelines, I can’t change anything and thousands of others can’t change anything so we just want to play football.”
PREDICTIONS
Scott McIntyre
Wales 0-1 Iran
Michael Church
Wales 0-1 Iran
Paul Williams
Wales 1-1 Iran
Martin Lowe
Wales 0-2 Iran
