BOSNIA vs. IRAN
Date: June 25, 2014
Time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 4-0-1 Iran
Last Match: 2009 Friendly. Iran def. Bosnia 3-2.
Line: Bosnia +105
Group F Preview here.
Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Bosnia (21st), Iran (43rd)
Managers: Safet Susic (BIH), Carlos Queiroz (IRN)
Captains: Emir Spahic (BIH), Javad Nekounam (IRN)
World Cup Appearances: 1 (BIH), 4 (IRN)
Best Finish: Bosnia (N/A), Iran (3x Group Stage, Last in 2006)
Qualifying Records: Bosnia (8-1-1, GF: 30, GA: 6), Iran (10-2-4, GF: 30, GA: 7)
Previous Game Results
Bosnia
Iran
June 16th - Nigeria tied Iran 0-0
June 21st - Argentina def. Iran 1-0
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
Iran: Javad Nekounam (Yellow Card), Masoud Shojaei (Yellow Card), Andranik Teymourian (Yellow Card)
Overview
Iran and Bosnia meet in their final group game, and for your bizarre stat of the day, Bosnia have never beaten Iran in 5 meetings, losing 4 of those contests. Granted most of those losses came a decade ago before Bosnia's rise to a top European squad but it's something that will surely be in Bosnian minds going in to this game.
Expected to make a run in this tournament, it has been a hugely disappointing first World Cup for Bosnia, the only debutante in 2014. Haven't been able to get going offensively and have admitted they felt cheated by some of the refereeing decisions against them in the Nigeria loss.
Iran have yet to score in Brazil, but not unlike Greece, are in a position to have a shot at advancing because of the strong play of their defence. Held Nigeria scoreless in their opener and only missed out on tying Argentina by an injury time goal from Lionel Messi. Iran will have to get their offence going today though, as they need a win and some help from Nigeria if they want any hope of advancing to the knockout round for the first time.
Iran has played a variation of a 4-5-1 formation this tournament and should continue that today. Reza Ghoochannejhad up front and winger Ashkan Dejagah are the best hopes for Iran to find a way behing the Bosnian defence and to put the ball in the back of the net.
Bosnia is expected to stick with their starters in this game despite being eliminated. While the temptation is there for Safet Susic to give his bench players some run, there's an overarching feeling that Bosnia haven't shown what they are capable of yet and that they want to demonstrate their quality in this match.
Personnel
In the Bosnian Third: Iran may have a bit of encouragement here. This is not the strong point of Bosnia's games and their central defenders could not handle the speed of Emenike in Nigeria's lone striker set. Ghoochannejhad doesn't bring nearly the same size as Emenike but is quick on the ball which could be an issue for Bosnia. Iran won't have a lot of opportunities in this part of the field but have looked dangerous when they are there. Advantage: Even.
In the Midfield: The strength of the Bosnian squad with guys like Pjanic and Hajrovic leading the way. Iran need the win but are still expected to ease the pressure when Bosnia have the ball and sit back in defence. Bosnia should have the run of the field in the middle of the park. Advantage: Bosnia.
In the Iranian Third: Bosnia have been disappointing in this end of the field. Edin Dzeko hasn't got going and Bosnia have showed little in the way of tactics in trying to break down opposing defences, settling instead for long shots. That situation won't get any better against an Iran squad that has locked down their own end in their first 2 games. Advantage: Iran.
Goalkeeping: Asmir Begovic had a brilliant game against Nigeria but it's Alireza Haghighi that has turned heads with his performance so far. Little known on the world stage, Haghighi has turned in two consecutive solid performances, only being beaten once by Lionel Messi. Advantage: Even.
Expected to make a run in this tournament, it has been a hugely disappointing first World Cup for Bosnia, the only debutante in 2014. Haven't been able to get going offensively and have admitted they felt cheated by some of the refereeing decisions against them in the Nigeria loss.
Iran have yet to score in Brazil, but not unlike Greece, are in a position to have a shot at advancing because of the strong play of their defence. Held Nigeria scoreless in their opener and only missed out on tying Argentina by an injury time goal from Lionel Messi. Iran will have to get their offence going today though, as they need a win and some help from Nigeria if they want any hope of advancing to the knockout round for the first time.
Iran has played a variation of a 4-5-1 formation this tournament and should continue that today. Reza Ghoochannejhad up front and winger Ashkan Dejagah are the best hopes for Iran to find a way behing the Bosnian defence and to put the ball in the back of the net.
Bosnia is expected to stick with their starters in this game despite being eliminated. While the temptation is there for Safet Susic to give his bench players some run, there's an overarching feeling that Bosnia haven't shown what they are capable of yet and that they want to demonstrate their quality in this match.
Personnel
In the Bosnian Third: Iran may have a bit of encouragement here. This is not the strong point of Bosnia's games and their central defenders could not handle the speed of Emenike in Nigeria's lone striker set. Ghoochannejhad doesn't bring nearly the same size as Emenike but is quick on the ball which could be an issue for Bosnia. Iran won't have a lot of opportunities in this part of the field but have looked dangerous when they are there. Advantage: Even.
In the Midfield: The strength of the Bosnian squad with guys like Pjanic and Hajrovic leading the way. Iran need the win but are still expected to ease the pressure when Bosnia have the ball and sit back in defence. Bosnia should have the run of the field in the middle of the park. Advantage: Bosnia.
In the Iranian Third: Bosnia have been disappointing in this end of the field. Edin Dzeko hasn't got going and Bosnia have showed little in the way of tactics in trying to break down opposing defences, settling instead for long shots. That situation won't get any better against an Iran squad that has locked down their own end in their first 2 games. Advantage: Iran.
Goalkeeping: Asmir Begovic had a brilliant game against Nigeria but it's Alireza Haghighi that has turned heads with his performance so far. Little known on the world stage, Haghighi has turned in two consecutive solid performances, only being beaten once by Lionel Messi. Advantage: Even.
Bosnia will win if:
Just attack. They're trying to be too cute on the ball and too precise with their passing. This is a team that qualified for Brazil to a clip of 3 goals for per game over 10 games. Attack the opposing goal, get inside the defensive lines and just take the chance if it's afforded to you. Too good a team to have 1 goal for and 2 losses in their 2 matches. Not as if Iran will punish you too much either if you're caught in the offensive zone.
Iran will win if:
Have to press higher up the field and not sink in to their penalty area. That made sense in their first 2 games but they need to get a win in this game if they want to continue their world cup. Don't abandon who you are necessarily, you have to be defence first, but you maximize your chances of capitalizing on your opportunities if Ghoochannejhad and Dejagah have support. Only way they get support is for Iran to push higher and force turnovers closer to midfield than their own goal line.
Tough questions to answer. How does Bosnia fare against a very compact and organized defence? When does Iran push for the win and how vulnerable are they when they do? Don't think Iran has what it takes to get the victory over Bosnia, at least not without surrendering their own end and exposing themselves to the dangerous Bosnian shooters.
Bosnia 1-0 Iran
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