Football Results

It is a little strange that Iran is welcoming this match in the second round of group B of World Cup in Russia from the first place on the table, but they have in the best way used the fact that they played with Morocco in the first round, because they have defeated them with 1-0, while at the same time the Spaniards played 3-3in their big derby with Portugal. However, the popular “Fury” applies for a big favourite against the team of Iran, especially since they eventually want to finish in the first place in the group, which will not be easy to do next to the current European champion, Portugal. We should also add that this is the first mutual duel between Iran and Spain in history

Iran

However, we have already pointed out in the introduction that the Iranians are somewhat surprisingly welcoming this duel from the first place on the table and with two points more than the Spaniards, so they will certainly highlymotivated to enter this match. Otherwise, the team of Iran has came with a lot of luck to that great victory of 1-0 over Morocco, because they have scored that only goal in the match in the 95th minute, after the Moroccan striker Bouhaddouzafter a beak unfortunately pointed the ball into his team’s network. Before that, the Iranians were somewhat inferior to their rivals and were mostly based on their solid game in defence and fast counter attacks, where Jahanbakhsh and Azmoun were again the most concrete.

However, Jahanbakhsh got injuredin the middle of the second half and he is now questionable for this match with Spain, just like the experienced midfielder Ebrahimi, so that their seats should now only be occupied by the recovered Dejagah and the young midfielder Ezatolahi who had no right to perform in the first round. In addition to these forced changes due to injuries, coach Queiroz will probably have to set up a somewhat more defensive tactic than in Morocco, because he is also aware of the strength of their next opponent, which is again the best in the middle of the field, so this part of Iranian team will definitely be on the greatest temptations.

Probable lineups Iran: Beiranvand – Rezaeian, Pouraliganji, Cheshmi, Mohammadi – Ezatolahi – Dejagah, Ansarifard, Shojaei, Hajsafi – Azmoun

Spain

As for the former world and European champions, they showed a lot of oscillationsin their first appearance at World Cup in Russia, in a derby with Portugal, so in the end, the draw was maybe the most realistic option. But there is no doubt that they will regret this missed opportunity to win all three points at the start of the championship, especially since they had the lead until the 88th minute and Ronaldo's score for 3-2. However, before that, they even returned twice from the result minus because they were losing with 1-0 and 2-1, but this again tells us that this team of Spain still has a character, despite the fact that they before the start of the World Cuphad great problems after the sudden replacement of theircoach Lopetegui, under whose leadership they had not experienced any defeats.

Yet, under the baton of Hierra, they showed that they do not lack the motives, while their quality is undeniable, just as the fact that they apply for absolute favourites against Iran. However, this must be justified on the field as well, because Iran is a team that is entering this match full of confidence after their great victory over Morocco, so Hierro himself will have to work hard on the best psychological preparation of his players. As for the composition for this match of the second round, we believe that, unlike their duel with Portugal, the opportunity could now be gained by some younger and much faster players, such as Niguez, Asensia and Odriozole, especially since their right back Carvajal is still questionable.

Probable lineups Spain: de Gea – Odriozola, Pique, Ramos, Alba – Busquets – Niguez, Silva, Isco, Asensio – D.Costa

Verdict:

Despite having two points more than the Spaniards after the first round matches, the feisty Iranians still have very little chance in this match, especially since coach Hierrois well aware that they need to celebrate convincingly over Iran and Morocco in this fight for the first place in the group.

Pick: Asian Handicap -1.5 Spain 1.64 - 64/100 @1XBet