Iran World Cup 2018 squad and team guide
Here we take a look at Iran's World Cup squad and the other things it will be handy to know about the Group B challengers.
Iran's World Cup squad - the 23 names
23-man final squad: Alireza Beiranvand, Rashid Mazaheri, Amir Abedzadeh; Ramin Rezaeian, Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh, Morteza Pouraliganji, Pejman Montazeri, Seyed Majid Hosseini, Milad Mohammadi, Roozbeh Cheshmi; Saeid Ezatolahi, Masoud Shojaei, Saman Ghoddos, Mahdi Torabi, Ashkan Dejagah, Omid Ebrahimi, Ehsan Hajsafi, Vahid Amiri; Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Karim Ansarifard, Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun, Reza Ghoochannejhad
Iran's World Cup 2018 fixtures
Morocco: Friday, June 15 at 4pm
Spain: Wednesday, June 20 at 7pm
Portugal: Monday, June 25 at 7pm
What odds are Iran to win the World Cup?
500/1
The kits
See where Iran's shirts ends up in our ranking of all 64 World Cup shirts below:
World Cup kits ranked
Who's the coach?
Carlos Queiroz, erstwhile assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson who called him “an intelligent, meticulous Rottweiler”. He took Iran to Brazil in 2014 after spells at Real Madrid and his native Portugal twice.
Who's the star?
Alireza Jahanbakhsh, an elusive two-footed sprite who can play on either wing, has had an outstanding season with AZ Alkmaar and won the Eredivisie’s Golden Boot for 21 goals in addition to his 12 assists.
Best thing about them
Queiroz’s conservatism, much criticised by Roy Keane at Old Trafford, has equipped them with a superbly organised defence and enough skilful flyers to be disruptive on the break.
Worst thing about them
Queiroz can be cranky and is an incorrigible politician - his players back him but turmoil with his board is never far away.
You may recognise…
Ashkan Dejagah, bustling winger and Fulham’s player of the year in 2014, has just completed six injury-wrecked months with Forest in the Championship.
Cameramen will be picking out...
The Persian diaspora resplendent in red, white and green facepaint, ‘Scouse’ wigs and clothes of which the clerics would disapprove.
Fans' favourite chant
‘Iran’ … clap x6 … ‘Iran’ … clap x6 … ‘Iran’ … etc
On-field prediction
Extremely hard-fought games, national honour preserved but no scalp to match 1998’s ‘Great Satan’ USA.
Off-field prediction
Colourful, loud and proud, uniting exiles and those who live there in celebration of a common culture.
Full 2018 World Cup squad lists and guides | Star to watch, odds, fans' chants and more
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