ARGENTINA vs. IRAN
Date: June 21, 2014
Time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 0-0-1
Last Match: 1977 Friendly. Argentina tied Iran 1-1 (ARG won 4-3 in PK's).
Line: Argentina -900
Group F Preview here.
Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Argentina (5th), Iran (43rd)
Managers: Alejandro Sabella (ARG), Carlos Queiroz (IRN)
Captains: Lionel Messi (ARG), Javad Nekounam (IRN)
World Cup Appearances: 16 (ARG), 4 (IRN)
Best Finish: Argentina (2x Champions, Last in 1986), Iran (Group Stage, Last in 2006)
Qualifying Records: Argentina (9-2-5, GF: 35, GA: 15), Iran (10-2-4, GF: 30, GA: 7)
Previous Game Results
Argentina
Iran
June 16th - Iran tied Nigeria 0-0
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
Argentina: Marcos Rojo (Yellow Card)
Iran: Andranik Teymourian (Yellow Card)
Overview
With their toughest group match out of the way, Argentina will look to secure a knockout round position and inch closer to locking first place up as they take on Iran in Belo Horizonte. Still in contention for the second position in the group, Iran may have to settle for escaping with their dignity intact against a vastly superior Argentine side.
Argentina started in an unconventional 5-3-2/3-5-2 hybrid in their first game against Bosnia and it executed poorly at best. They switched to a 4-3-3 formation at halftime and it seemed to work wonders for their offence. It also allowed Argentina to get their best players on the field as Gonzalo Higuain inexplicably started the game on the bench. Look for Argentina to go with their big three of Higuain, Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero up front an find the goal early and often against this Iranian team.
Iran brings a defence-first approach to the game and boasts one of the top defensive records in Asia. But no team in Asia poses the offensive threat that Argentina does. No Iranian defender saw action last time they were in the World Cup and for a back line composed primarily of domestic club players in Iran, they could end up shell-shocked against the depth and strength of Argentina.
Would anticipate seeing a similar lineup from both teams with Argentina's squad looking more like the second-half version from the Bosnia game.
Personnel
In the Argentine Third: Reza Ghoochannejhad in particular posed a problem for the Nigerian back line in particular but far too much quality in this game for Iran to handle on attack. Advantage: Argentina.
In the Midfield: Bosnia clogged the middle of the field and made life difficult for Argentina to control this section of the pitch. Argentina should move to their traditional 4-3-3 as opposed to the 5-3-2 they employed against Bosnia and have some more success working the midfield against a passive Iran squad. Advantage: Argentina.
In the Iranian Third: It was tough sledding for Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero against Bosnia. The game opened up for them in the second half though once Higuain was inserted in the game. Regardless of how they line up, the Iranian defenders have never seen a lineup like this before. Advantage: Argentina.
Goalkeeping: Sergio Romero looked improved against Bosnia despite surrendering a rather cheap goal. Alireza Haghighi had some control issues in his penalty area did get the clean sheet against Nigeria. Romero on experience alone. Advantage: Argentina
Argentina started in an unconventional 5-3-2/3-5-2 hybrid in their first game against Bosnia and it executed poorly at best. They switched to a 4-3-3 formation at halftime and it seemed to work wonders for their offence. It also allowed Argentina to get their best players on the field as Gonzalo Higuain inexplicably started the game on the bench. Look for Argentina to go with their big three of Higuain, Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero up front an find the goal early and often against this Iranian team.
Iran brings a defence-first approach to the game and boasts one of the top defensive records in Asia. But no team in Asia poses the offensive threat that Argentina does. No Iranian defender saw action last time they were in the World Cup and for a back line composed primarily of domestic club players in Iran, they could end up shell-shocked against the depth and strength of Argentina.
Would anticipate seeing a similar lineup from both teams with Argentina's squad looking more like the second-half version from the Bosnia game.
Personnel
In the Argentine Third: Reza Ghoochannejhad in particular posed a problem for the Nigerian back line in particular but far too much quality in this game for Iran to handle on attack. Advantage: Argentina.
In the Midfield: Bosnia clogged the middle of the field and made life difficult for Argentina to control this section of the pitch. Argentina should move to their traditional 4-3-3 as opposed to the 5-3-2 they employed against Bosnia and have some more success working the midfield against a passive Iran squad. Advantage: Argentina.
In the Iranian Third: It was tough sledding for Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero against Bosnia. The game opened up for them in the second half though once Higuain was inserted in the game. Regardless of how they line up, the Iranian defenders have never seen a lineup like this before. Advantage: Argentina.
Goalkeeping: Sergio Romero looked improved against Bosnia despite surrendering a rather cheap goal. Alireza Haghighi had some control issues in his penalty area did get the clean sheet against Nigeria. Romero on experience alone. Advantage: Argentina
Argentina will win if:
Shoot early and as often as possible. I felt Argentina were trying to be a bit too cute in the offensive third against Bosnia and wasted scoring chances as a result. They should be able to carve up the Iran central defence and get all sorts of shots at the Iranian goal. It's a relatively inexperienced goalkeeper in front of them, take you shots on the scoring chances and you'll have time to do the fancy stuff when you're up 3 goals.
Iran will win if:
Argentina show up to the wrong stadium and have to forfeit? Best hope for Iran is what I fully expect them to do. 9 guys behind the ball around their penalty area and hope they can repel everything Argentina can throw at them. Long balls to Ghoochannejhad up top when they can and see if he and Ashkan Dejagah can get something going or get some long shots on the shaky Romero in Argentina's net.
Too good offensively not to be successful in this match. Only question for me is how many goals Argentina will win by.
Argentina 4-0 Iran
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