Tehran Times - We all hope the best for Team Melli, but the Reality shows that according to World rankings, Group B is considered the hardest group in World Cup 2018 held in Russia.
And Iran will face very motivated Rivals. Spain and Portugal are responsible for the past three European titles and Spain wants to come back to the Top, while for Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo it will be his last chance to make a real impression at a World Cup. Morocco qualified for the first time after 20 years.
For the first time Iran, will play in back to back World Cups. I am sure, like always Iran will play a good organized Defense Football and with quick counterattacks. Team Melli has with Alireza Jahanbakhsh , Mehdi Taremi, Karim Ansarifard, Kaveh Rezaei and Sardar Azmoun perfect Counterattack Players. Therefore I am sure that Iran will be dangerous in all World Cup Games and will find enough goal opportunities. But I am not sure if the Defense has enough individual Capacity on this Level.
Therefore the results of Team Melli will depend very much on the individual defense mistake rate. The World Cup can be a big Chance for Players like Azmoun, Rezaei or Saman Ghoddos, who are playing in Europe, to get offers from Top Teams.
Matches:
* June 15: Morocco v Iran, St Petersburg ; June 19: Portugal v Spain, Sochi
*June 20: Portugal v Morocco, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow ; Iran v Spain, Kazan
*June 25: Iran v Portugal, Saransk ; Spain v Morocco, Kaliningrad
The Rivals :
Analyzing Portugal or Spain seems to be not necessary. But the way Portugal played on the Road to Russia, we can say that Portugal seem to be stronger now then at Euro 2016. For example, Milans André Silva and Bernardo Silva had great Performance at their Clubs and also in general the team has more alternatives. They have a good mix of very experienced and young talented Players. In Brazil 2014 and France 2016 Spain had disappointing results but qualified brilliantly for Russia 2018.
Even if the main Squad is similar, with the new Coach Lopetegui Spain is back to its successful football. Especially Morata and Isco made the offense of Spain much more dynamic and dangerous.
Morocco qualified for the 2018 World Cup for the first time in 20 years. Morocco displayed an united Team with a good organized Defense. The individual Quality of the Players are mostly in Defense like.
Juventus’s Mehdi Benatia. The offence belongs to the Form of Hakim Ziyech and Belhanda. These two Players are the Brain of the Offence. Who stops them, stops Team Morocco.
Result: For Iran to proceed from the group, will be very difficult, because Spain and Portugal are Top Teams in the World. But I think it will not be an easy task for them to beat Iran. Therefore I am sure that Team Melli will make Iran proud with positive football.