World Cup Preview - Group F - Iran

Nickname: "Team Melli (The National Team"

Absurd FIFA ranking: 37th

Coach: Portugeezer Carlos Quieroz

Game Schedule:
June 16 – Iran v. Nigeria (Curitiba, 3:00. EST, ESPN)
June 21 – Iran v. Argentina (Belo Horizonte, 12:00., ESPN)
June 25 – Iran v. Bosnia (Salvador, 12:00 p.m., ESPN2)

Prospects: This is Iran's fourth World Cup final tournament and they have yet to make it out of the group stages, their high watermark still the historic 1-0 win against the "Great Satan" of the US in 1998. Manager Carlos Quieroz will have as his objective preventing Iran from being the whipping boys of Group F and has fashioned a tight, well-organized defensive unit that relies on occasional breaks to score goals. Regardless, it will be a huge surprise if they survive even a weak group of opponents in Group F.

Key Player: Veteran skipper Jevan Nekounam anchors a very defensive midfield unit that often features three stoppers.

Youngster to watch: 20 year-old NEC winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh might be worth a look at; if he does anything in Brazil, he might escape the obscurity of the Eiredivisie.

Who Will Get the Goals: Striker Reza Ghoochannejhad is at the tip of a 4-5-1 formation; if he's not knocking them in, no one else will.

Who Will Get the Cards: Vancouver Whitecaps right back Steven Beitashour is fond of the agricultural challenge.

Funniest Name - Fulham's Ashkan "Moves Like" Dejagah.

Prediction: Another disappointing tournament for Iran; bottom of Group F.