Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

WC Preview: Cruel group has Morocco, Iran grasping at straws

Last updated on: June 13, 2018 22:46 IST

World Cup

IMAGE: Iran's Sardar Azmoun celebrates. Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters

A luckless draw has severely dented Morocco and Iran's hopes of making a mark at the World Cup before a ball has been kicked, and they head into their opening match in St Petersburg on Friday knowing defeat could likely mean an early exit.

 

Reigning European champions Portugal and 2010 World Cup winners Spain are the other two teams in Group B and are overwhelming favourites to progress to the knockout stages.

Appearing at consecutive World Cups for the first time, the Iranians are the top team from Asia and have benefited from a period of stability under Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, who took them to Brazil four years ago.

Morocco versus Iran Factbox

Morocco play Iran in a Group B match in St Petersburg on Friday:

Where: Saint-Petersburg Stadium, St Petersburg

Capacity: 68,134

When: Friday June 15, 20:30 IST

Key stats:

- Iran enter the World Cup as one of the highest-ranked teams in Asia, occupying 37th place in the FIFA world rankings while Morocco are in 41st place.

- Iran have qualified for the consecutive World Cups for the first time, while Morocco are back at the finals for the first time since 1998. Both teams are making their fifth appearance at a World Cup.

- Morocco progressed beyond the group stages in 1986, topping a group that contained England, Poland and Portugal, while Iran have never reached the last-16.

- Morocco are unbeaten in their last five games, with four wins and a draw, while Iran's preparation has been disrupted by the cancellation of two friendly matches. They won their final warm-up match against Lithuania 1-0.

Previous meetings: The sides have never met before in official competition.

The 65-year-old's preparations for Russia, however, have been disrupted by unwelcome distractions, such as Nike's refusal to supply boots to his players due to the U.S. sanctions against Iran and the cancellation of two warm-up matches this month.

"Iran have been drawn in the hardest group in the World Cup and we needed more preparation," said Queiroz, who will end his seven-year stint as manager after the tournament.

On the pitch, Iran are without defensive midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi, who is suspended for the first match.

His work-rate and intelligence will be sorely missed as 'Team Melli' try and plot a path to a second victory at their fifth appearance at a World Cup.

Iran breezed through qualifying with 12 clean sheets and were the second team to book their place in Russia behind Brazil, but doubts loom over the form of first-choice goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.

On the other hand, forwards Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Saman Ghoddos, Karim Ansarifard, Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi are in good form, and Iran will need every bit of their attacking verve if they are to trouble a well-marshalled Moroccan defence.

Morocco

IMAGE: Morocco team group. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Like Iran, the 'Atlas Lions' are playing in their fifth World Cup, but Morocco's last appearance was two decades ago, at the 1998 edition in France.

Led by Juventus centre back Mehdi Benatia, Morocco came through qualifying without conceding a goal and have four wins and a draw in their last five matches.

The team benefits from having a number of players in Europe's top leagues and are coached by Frenchman Herve Renard, who has instilled a great deal of tactical discipline into the side.

Veteran midfielders Mbark Boussoufa and Karim El Ahmadi shield the back four, while Renard's biggest offensive weapon is Dutch-born playmaker Hakim Ziyech.

Ziyech, who plays for Ajax, was named Dutch footballer of the year and has an eye for the spectacular. He is well complemented by French-born midfielder Younes Belhanda, and both were on target in Morocco's 3-1 win over Estonia in their final warm-up match earlier this month.

The north African nation's most obvious weakness is in goal, as first-choice keeper Munir Mohamedi has barely featured for second-division Spanish side Numancia all season.

Renard's team will find it a tall order to escape the group, but can take comfort from the fact that Morocco was the first African country to ever get past the opening round at a World Cup.

When they achieved that feat in 1986, they did it in style, topping a group that included England, Poland and Portugal.