Iran predictions, squad details, manager and tournament odds for the World Cup 2022, brought to you by the Ranks FC team.
Iran’s Golden Generation should be in their prime as they look to make it to the World Cup knockout stages for the first time ever.
This is their fifth appearance in the last seven World Cups but their Group makes the prospect of creating history seem very unlikely.
England and Wales make tough opponents while the US game will take on added edge given the history between the two nations. If Iran are to make it out of Group B, they need a masterplan.
Who is the Iran manager?
Coach Carlos Queiroz might just be the man that can deliver such a plan.
He is an experienced tactician who will carefully plot how to frustrate opponents. It won’t be free-flowing football but it will be well constructed and carefully considered. Iran hope he can deliver against the odds.
He is Iran’s longest serving coach having spent 2011 to 2018 in charge of the team, then he returned to the frame this year after Dragan Skocic was replaced after leading them to the Finals.
Skocic had issues throughout his reign, which included some conflict with key players, and now 69-year-old Queiroz has the job of bringing stability and harmony while also delivering surprise results.
What tactic can we expect from them?
Iran are expected to largely use a 4-3-3 system in Qatar but may also use 2 up top at times.
They will have a balanced approach that will see them use different tactics for different opponents. Basically it’s counter attack versus a crossing game.
There is a general feeling that they will play on the break against England. It is their first match of the tournament, a game they are unlikely to win, and will just want to stay in the contest
Yet that will not be the case so much against Wales and USA. In those games the expectation is for more emphasis on getting crosses into the box and also getting the ball to the strikers early.
Who are the players to watch for Iran?
Mehdi Taremi is a stand out star in this team and also, perhaps, the most high profile globally thanks to his status at FC Porto.
He has a great goalscoring record with the club averaging almost a goal every other game and his assist numbers are not far behind.
Perhaps his most famous goal was a bicycle kick against Chelsea in the Champions League and we should not rule out the potential of a stand-out moment from him at this tournament.
He will play on the right side of the Iran attack and will have no trouble settling into the Qatar landscape, given he spent playing time there with Al-Gharafa.
The current coach knows how to use him well and even shaped his club career. Queiroz encouraged him to move to Portugal with Rio Ave as the style would suit him - and he was right. Taremi loves the league and, of course, is now flourishing for Porto.
Sardar Azmoun has a terrific goal record for Iran, with 41 goals from 65 matches. He plies his trade with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany and is seen as the key to success.
The nation has been sweating on his fitness coming into the tournament. Azmoun suffered a calf injury in October that has caused more than its fair share of stress.
There have been positive signs ahead of the World Cup - and with him in the team there is some genuine hope.
Betfred
- Huge range of regular promotions
- 24/7 live chat service
- PickYourPunt builder for custom bets
How did Iran qualify for the World Cup?
Iran finished top of their AFC qualifying 3rd round Group with one defeat from 10 games.
The best team to judge them against was second placed South Korea and Iran managed a 1-1 draw with them but also lost 2-0.
This qualification was achieved under a different coach and in different circumstances so quite how much of the details from those results is still applicable, we can not be too sure.
What are the ambitions for this Iran team?
The aim is to make it out of group - something they have never done before.
But you get the feeling that to do that, their hopes need to be alive by the time they face USA in the final group match.
Beating the US would be a huge achievement in itself. The team will be eager to avoid any political talk interfering with their preparations for that fixture and in football terms they just have to hope the game itself takes on some meaning in terms of qualification.
Iran World Cup Odds
If the odds are to be believed, the 750/1 price for Iran to win the World Cup makes it a tall order.
Organisation, balance and luck will be needed if Iran are to make their mark and cause a stir.
