Iran go into their final game against Bosnia Herzegovina with a slim chance of progressing through to the Round of 16 for the first time in their history. In order to do so, nothing but a win against Safet Susic’s side will do. However, Carlos Queiroz’s Iran team must also score to progress and this is a feat which they failed to do against both Nigeria and Argentina.
Against Alejandro Sabella’s Argentina side, Iran came close to breaking their duck by playing on the counter and opening up La Albiceleste’s much-maligned defence on more than one occasion. It wasn’t to be and Iran allowed Lionel Messi space and time for him to grab a winner.
Carlos Queiroz’s side face a stern test against a Bosnia side which have failed to live up to their ‘surprise-package’ billing and the Iran boss has called on his side to put the disappointment against Argentina to one side and focus on being clinical upfront.
“My major concern is to keep players focused,” said Queiroz, who is leaving his post after the World Cup because of lack of financial support from the Iranian government. “And, they’ll need to convert those chances.”
To have any chance to proceed, Iran must win and with Nigeria only needed to draw against Argentina, Carlos Queiroz will most likely field an offensive line-up to give his side the best possible chance to qualify.
Group F between Nigeria and Iran is very tightly poised and the World Cup in Brazil faces the prospect of history being made, with both teams facing a lottery to decide who will finish second – something that has never happened at a World Cup.
Bosnia Herzegovina came into the World Cup backed as a surprise package that had the talent and tactical prowess needed to qualify, their hopes firmly placed on Roma’s Miralem Pjanic and Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko. Yet after two games, Safet Susic’s side bowed out of the tournament scoring just one goal which came in their opener against La Albiceleste.
Unsurprisingly, with Bosnia’s early exit their manager Safet Susic has come under heavy criticism in Bosnia and he has stated that he faces a challenge to galvanize his squad after failing to mount a challenge to qualify.
“Our obligation is to go out with honours, to leave a good impression,” Susic said. “It is a pity for this generation that it exits the World Cup so soon. They ran, fought and created chances.”
It could have different for Safet Susic’s Bosnian side, as their second group game against Nigeria came under the spotlight as Edin Dzeko’s goal was wrongly chalked off for being offside and cameras showed he was on.
Ahead of Iran’s last match against a disheartened Bosnia team tomorrow evening, Iran need to show hunger and composure in-front of goal and must score to create history.
