TEAM NEWS
Morocco and Iran meet for the first time in the World Cup in Friday’s Group B tie in St Petersburg (16:00 BST).
Morocco will be hoping right-back Nabil Dirar is passed fit after he missed his country’s friendlies against Slovakia and Estonia because of a calf injury.
Iran are without suspended defensive midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi.
There are also fitness doubts surrounding striker Mehdi Taremi and former Fulham and Nottingham Forest midfielder Askhan Dejagah.
Morocco Line-Up
Morocco XI (4-1-4-1): Kajoui, Hakimi, Benatia, Saiss, Ziyach, El Ahmadi, Belhanda, Boussoufa, Amarabat, Harit, El Kaabi
Iran Line-Up
Iran XI (4-1-4-1): Beiranvand, Hajisafi, Cheshmi, Pouraliganji, Rezaeian, Shojaei, Ebrahimi, Amiri, Andarifard, Jahanbakhsh, Azmoun
OVERVIEW
Both nations impressed in qualifying with Morocco only conceding one goal in their eight games, while Iran only let in five goals in their 18 qualifying matches.
However, they were left rueing the draw that saw them placed in the same group as 2010 winners Spain and reigning European champions Portugal, with only the top two sides advancing to the last 16.
“Iran have been drawn in the hardest group in the World Cup and we needed more preparation,” said former Real Madrid boss Carlos Queiroz, who will end his seven-year stint as Iran manager after the tournament.
With tough challenges ahead, both countries will be seeing this as a must-win match. Morocco play Portugal on Wednesday, 20 June (13:00 BST), before Iran play Spain at 19:00 BST on the same day.
Morocco’s captain is Juventus defender Medhi Benatia and their squad also includes Real Madrid defender Achraf Hakimi and Wolves midfielder Romain Saiss.
Iran striker Sardar Azmoun, who plays in Russia for Rubin Kazan, has scored 23 times in 33 international appearances.
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz is not exactly known for attacking football and Morocco also play in quite a pragmatic style. They only conceded one goal in eight games in qualifying – in a second-round win over Equatorial Guinea.
Looking at the other teams in Group B, you could say that this is a must-win for both sides if they are to have any chance of reaching the last 16, but it is probably more of a ‘must-score’.
Prediction: 0-0
Source: BBC News
