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.
June 22, 2018 21:01
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Spain Wins But Iran Gets World Acclaim
Iranians’ priority was to block Spain’s strikes and use the empty space behind the Spanish defenders in counter attacks and they moved on with both strategies equally well
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