Tag: Joao Moutinho

A chance of a lifetime – Iran vs Portugal

Iran should not be under any pressure to go on the offensive to satisfy some critics‘ whims , neither is Queiroz obliged. He is not the type of a person that is easily influenced by external pressure. The Portuguese realizes that this particular match for more than one reason, is the game of his life and the same applies to all the players of Team Melli too.

Three points after the win against Morocco is not enough for Iran to qualify. Nothing short of a win will do and against Queiroz’s homeland team. After the match against Spain, a win is definitely a possibility against Portugal. Team Melli’s performance warrants praise and admiration, which it deservedly received from football journalist and fans across the world.

Team Melli’s energy against an aging Portugal side, with a suspect defense is a mouthwatering prospect. It is chance that Team Melli should not waste and by profligate forwards. The quality of the finishing touch must be much better and so should be the passing accuracy.

Portugal is not all about Cristiano Ronaldo either. However, limiting and neutralizing the Real Madrid forward, will go a long way in achieving the desired result. The showman that he is, Ronaldo has a clear weakness and that is in his temperament. He can be easily frustrated and that is one major key factor in neutralizing him.  There is no doubt that his former coach has a few tricks up his sleeve to neutralize Ronaldo tonight.

 The eyes are all on the two stars of the team Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Sardar Azmoun to deliver. The latter has an excellent aerial power that has not been utilized yet. Jahanbakhsh needs to improve his game in all departments. Both players need to take the game to the Portuguese box and take on the likes of Fonte and Pepe. They have the ability to beat those two defenders.

Milad Mohammadi’s starting is still in doubt and very much dependent on Hajsafi’s recovery from the knock he received in the Spain game. If Mohammadi starts, his runs and pace will certainly give the Portugal defenders a run for their money and feed those crosses to Azmoun and Taremi. Both the forwards need to be at their best and not to be wasteful.

Team Melli also needs a rpeat performance from that young dynamo Saeid Ezatolahi

A win is achievable. The players need to believe in themselves. There is nothing to lose for Iran but a lot of honor and pride to be gained.

Joao Moutinho

 

 

TEAM NEWS

Iran may be without Olympiakos defender Ehsan Hajsafi, who sustained a thigh injury against Spain.

Milad Mohammadi, who plays his club football for Akhmat Grozny in Russia, is likely to come in if Hajsafi is ruled out.

Portugal midfielder Joao Moutinho is a doubt after missing several days of training through illness.

Raphael Guerreiro has recovered from a minor leg injury but struggled against Morocco and could be replaced.

OVERVIEW

Iran were predicted to finish last in this group in some quarters. They could still end up winning it.

Team Melli, ranked 37 in the world, go into their final match with a chance to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history. Spain’s opening match against Portugal may have been the game of the tournament so far, but this fixture should have its own layers of intrigue.

A win is needed to guarantee qualification for Iran. If they claim a victory and Spain fail to win, they would reach the last 16 as group winners. For Portugal, a draw would be enough to go through.

As the nation ranked fourth in the world, and reigning European champions, Portugal should start as clear favourites.

However, Iran have a wildcard in their corner. Coach Carlos Queiroz had two spells managing his native Portugal, including at the 2010 World Cup, where they made the last 16. If Queiroz can utilise his inside knowledge, it may be a feat he replicates at the expense of his former employers.

 

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

  • This is Iran and Portugal’s second World Cup encounter. In 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo’s first World Cup goal, and one from Deco, earned Portugal a 2-0 win.

Iran

  • Iran have never won their final World Cup group stage game (D1, L3), scoring three and conceding 10 in those matches.
  • Team Melli are winless against European opposition at the World Cup, losing six of their seven fixtures.
  • Iran failed to register a shot on target against Spain for the first time in 14 World Cup games.
  • The defeat to Spain was a first in 24 competitive matches overall.
  • Iran are aiming to win two group games at the World Cup for the first time.
  • During his time coaching Portugal, Iran boss Carlos Queiroz oversaw their biggest World Cup victory, a 7-0 win over North Korea in 2010.

Portugal

  • Portugal have won three of their four World Cup games against Asian opposition, losing against host nation South Korea in 2002.
  • Portugal’s 1-0 win over Morocco last time out was their first World Cup clean sheet in six attempts, since a goalless draw with Brazil in 2010.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo has scored his country’s last five goals at the World Cup. The last player to do so for one nation was Russia’s Oleg Salenko in 1994, who scored six in a row.
  • Ronaldo has successfully converted all four of his shots on target at this World Cup.
  • Joao Moutinho could earn a 113th cap against Iran, overtaking Nani (112) to become Portugal’s third-most capped player. Only Ronaldo (152) and Luis Figo (127) have more.