Iran hopes to advance to the spherical of 16 for the primary time regardless of some turmoil within the lead-up to the match.
Earlier World Cup appearances: 1978,1998, 2006, 2014, 2018
Titles: 0
Finest end: Group stage
World Cup file: W2, D4, L9
Objectives: 9
Greatest win: 2-1 vs USA (1998)
Key participant: Mehdi Taremi
Rating: 20
Fixtures: England (November 21), Wales (November 25), USA (November 29)
Iran’s World Cup hopes have been intertwined with political affairs as virtually two months of protests, that started after demise of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody have rocked the nation.
Tehran has additionally been accused of supplying Russia with drones used within the battle in Ukraine.
Athletes, together with footballers within the native league and in worldwide matches, have refused to have fun wins, trophies and objectives for the reason that begin of the lethal protests.
Ukraine and numerous activists against the Iranian state have referred to as on FIFA for the staff to be expelled from the World Cup.
Iran’s nationwide soccer staff, Workforce Melli, in the meantime, faces powerful matches on the World Cup. Regardless of a rocky few months off the pitch within the leadup, the gamers stay hopeful of creating historical past on the match.
In Group B, Iran will face England, Wales and the US, all of whom are ranked increased than them.
At 20, Iran is the highest Asian staff within the FIFA rankings, above Japan and South Korea.
“I feel Iran and Japan are probably amongst Asian groups with the flexibility to move the group stage of the World Cup,” Iran’s newly appointed head coach, the Portuguese Carlos Queiroz, instructed Iranian media in October.
Probably the most high-profile Iranian participant is at present 30-year-old Mehdi Taremi, a ahead who performs for Portuguese membership Porto. Sardar Azmoun, a ahead who performs for Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen, is one other key participant. Azmoun was injured whereas enjoying for Leverkusen in early October, however medical doctors say they're optimistic he'll get better by the point Iran takes to the pitch in Qatar.
The Iranian staff will make historical past if it advances from the group stage, a feat it has by no means managed regardless of coming shut a number of instances.
Additionally coached by Queiroz in 2018, Workforce Melli narrowly misplaced to Spain and Portugal.
For this World Cup, issues would possibly look barely higher for Iran who topped the qualifying group with 25 factors and a aim distinction of +11.
The staff was then coached by Croatian Dragan Skočić, who registered important data regardless of being on the helm for under about two-and-a-half years. He spent most of that point unable to educate because of the unfold of the coronavirus.
Skočić received 15 of his 18 video games as head coach. In that interval, Iran scored 40 objectives and conceded solely eight, achieved their fastest-ever qualification to the World Cup, and the coach secured the longest successful streak amongst all head coaches within the historical past of Workforce Melli.
However disagreements with a number of gamers, together with star striker Taremi, along with points with federation officers, meant that Skočić’s time at Workforce Melli was ultimately reduce quick when he was sacked in early July.
After controversial elections on the soccer federation, the brand new soccer chief Mehdi Taj – who has confronted criticism within the Iranian media over alleged monetary corruption – selected to deliver again Queiroz.
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