Team Preview – Iran

Manager: Carlos Queiroz, aged 61, was born in Mozambique. Queiroz migrated to Portugal aged 22 and immediately started a coaching career, eventually coaching his adopted Portugal to successive World Under-20 titles in 1989 and 1991. He has qualified three different nations to the Mundial including South Africa in 2002, Portugal in 2010 and now Iran for Brazil 2014. Queiroz managed Real Madrid and worked alongside Alex Ferguson at assistant manager during two stints at Manchester United during a period of complete domination in English football.

Star player: Javad Nekounam is highly esteemed in Iranian football, representing Team Melli 139 times. Javad played in the World Cup finals of 2006 in Germany attracting the attention of many European clubs before signing with La Liga outfit Osasuna. He currently plays in Kuwait with Al-Kuwait and has a decorated career at both club and international level.

Who to look out for: Masoud Shojaei (Las Palmas) Reza Ghoochannejhad (Charlton Athletic) and Andranik Teymourian (Esteghlal) are among a squad laden with defensive midfield players.

The draw: Group F contains 1978 and 1986 champion Argentina who are expected to win the group and advance deep into the tournament before making a genuine tilt at the winning the World Cup for the first time since Mexico 86. Argentina have appeared at the World cup fifteen times and are the overwhelming favourites in Group F. Bosnia Herzegovina are making their debut at the Mundial but their technical superiority will trouble Iran when they meet in Salvador. This match will be crucial and the Bosnians pose a dangerous threat. In between await the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who are at the finals for the fifth time after previously qualifying in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010. This group is full of potholes and full of opportunity for Iran who may be underestimated by their group opponents.

Prediction: 1^st Round. Despite a brave showing, Iran will exit the tournament in the opening stages. Qualification would always represent a victory of sorts for the Islamic republic who will use Brazil as the launch pad for an assault on the Asian Cup in Australia in January 2015 and an opportunity to blood new players. Queiroz has trialled many young players in the last twelve months, although ten players remain over the age of thirty in the squad and Iran will exit the tournament at the first hurdle.

FTSAUS Fact: Currently ranked 37^th in the world and number one in the Asian football Confederation, the Persian Princes shocked the world by holding fancied Scotland to 1-1 at Argentina 78′ before defeating the United States 2-1 in a highly charged group state match at France 1998. The great Ali Daei scored 109 goals in 149 appearances for Iran in an incredible career between1993-2006. 2014 marks Iran appearing at the FIFA World Cup for the fourth time.

Previous World Cup appearance(s): 1978 (1^st round), 1998 (1^st round) and 2006 (1^st round)

Extra time: Football means everything to the people of Persia. When Iran qualified for the 1998 World Cup Finals at the expense of Australia, the government who strictly control all facets of daily life were so overjoyed by the scenes coming out of Melbourne they allowed public displays of happiness and celebration. This was the first time since the overthrow of the Shah and the revolution of 1979 that any such public freedom of speech and activity had been allowed. Such is the power of football.