Iran narrowly lost its second Group B match in the 2018 World Cup to powerhouse Spain 1-0 in Kazan, Russia, on Wednesday. But with three points from the first game with Morocco, Team Melli is still hopeful of advancing to the Round of 16 when it meets Portugal on Monday.
Facing a very compact Iranian team whose courageous players formed a stonewall in front of their area, Spain, coached by Fernando Hierro, threw everything in its arsenal but was forced to be patient by passing the ball all across the field for almost the entire game to find a way to the goal.
Against the Spaniards, the Iran national team, managed by Carlos Queiroz, applied one main tactic: defending with all players and wait for counter attacks.
The Iran squad did their very best to resist the best and brightest from among the soccer world. Spain is the world champion in 2010 and Europe champion in 2008 and 2012, and benefits from six players who have won the UEFA Champions League for the last three consecutive years with Real Madrid.
Queiroz’s players denied almost all of the Spaniards’ attacks and kept their goal closed fighting tooth and nail but saw the ball past the goal-line in the 54th minute.
Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa got the ball inside the box from Iniesta. Before Costa could shoot, Iran defender Ramin Rezaeian cleared the ball but to his bad luck it hit Costa’s foot and rolled into the net past Alireza Beiranvand’s hand.
That was the only scene during Iran’s two games in the current World Cup when the keeper surrendered as he had several great saves in both games and kept a clean sheet against an all attacking Morocco side in the first match.
Spain created some more chances through David Silva, Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets, all to no avail.
It was Spain’s first victory in the campaign as the team got only one point after a 3-3 draw with Portugal in the first step. Costa’s goal was his third in the tournament; he scored twice in the previous match.
Defense, a Priority
Similar to their first game, Iranians left the ball in possession of their opponent (72% for Spain and 28% for Iran). Their priority was to block Spain’s strikes and use the empty space behind the Spanish defenders, who had moved forward, in counter attacks. They moved on with both strategies equally well as the two teams found almost the same number of serious scoring opportunities throughout 90 minutes.
Iran even scored a goal by midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi after the hour mark but it was ruled out for offside. Sardar Azmoun headed the ball inside the box from a long free kick, Ezatolahi received the ball and nutmegged De Gea to make Iran’s bench, 15,000-plus raucous fans in the stadium and millions of Iranians watching the match on TV jump out of their seats for joy. But the assistant referee’s flag was up for offside and the decision was approved after the VAR referees confirmed it.
Earlier in the 53rd minute, Karim Ansarifard’s power shot whooshed passed De Gea’s right pole and met the net from outside while Manchester United keeper stood still as an observer.
Also in the 83rd minute, Team Melli had a superb chance to level the result when midfielder Vahid Amiri nutmegged Barcelona defender Gerard Pique and sent a cross into the box where Mehdi Taremi’s strong header sailed over the bar.
Proud of Team Melli
Despite the loss, Iranian fans were satisfied with their national team’s performance and believe they did not deserve the defeat.
Similarly, Iran’s great and admirable efforts against the Spanish giants made the world respect and praise the team: “Spain Lucky to Escape With 1-0 Victory Over Iran” (The New York Times), “Diego Costa gets luck of the bounce as Spain deny impressive Iran” (The Guardian), “Fortunate Diego Costa goal sees Spain overcome Iran’s stubborn resistance” (Telegraph), “Hierro’s team avoids World Cup shocker, earns win on odd Costa goal” (CBS Sports), “A lucky Diego Costa goal handed hopefuls Spain their first win of the World Cup although a resilient Iran came close to causing a major upset.” (The AFC).
Iran had not lost in 22 competitive matches since the last World Cup (it was beaten on penalties in the last Asian Championship). In 18 of those games the team kept clean sheets. And there was enough demonstration of how they did it: they defended as if their life depended on it.
Speaking after the game, Spain’s coach Hierro said: “Nobody is winning easily at the World Cup, we’ve had it as hard as we thought”.
“Equality is at its maximum in this World Cup,” he intimated. “Iran is a great team, with clear ideas. Queiroz has been working with them for seven years and they won’t make things easy for anyone. It is very hard to score against them ... We are very happy with three points,” Marca reported him as saying.
Queiroz admired his team saying: “We left having lost 1-0 but we won respect; the players should be proud”.
And so are many Iranians who posted similar messages on the social media saying they are proud of the team.
“They have sensational players,” Queiroz added. “We thank Spain for all that we have learned. This was a unique opportunity for my players to learn about international football. The aim of Iran was to improve and Spain allowed us to do that.”
Dream Still Alive
Earlier in the day Portugal beat Morocco 1-0. Now both Spain and Portugal are atop Group B with four points and are followed by Iran which has remained on three points. Morocco has been eliminated with no points.
Few expected Group B to be as competitive as it has proven to be. Any two from Iran, Spain and Portugal can still progress to the last 16.
Iran’s dream of reaching the knockout stage of the World Cup is still in place. It has not happened during the team’s previous four appearances in the tournament, but now there is a possibility.
Speaking about their last group match against Portugal, Queiroz says: “We are not shy, we go for it, we are really determined. We know it will be tough but we don’t come here expecting easy things. We only have one thing in mind.”
Queiroz also added they would head into the Portugal decider with confidence. “We go for it, with great belief and great determination to try to win the game,” Reuters reported him as saying. “When we arrived, no one gave us a chance, but we still fight for our dreams”.
