Either side could still qualify but I bet @pap will make @Saint-CD suffer, will CR7 get more goals and knock our Harry off of the Golden boot chart?
TEAM NEWS
Iran may be without Olympiakos defender Ehsan Hajsafi, who sustained a thigh injury against Spain.
Milad Mohammadi, who plays his club football for Akhmat Grozny in Russia, is likely to come in if Hajsafi is ruled out.
Portugal midfielder Joao Moutinho is a doubt after missing several days of training through illness.
Raphael Guerreiro has recovered from a minor leg injury but struggled against Morocco and could be replaced.
OVERVIEW
Iran were predicted to finish last in this group in some quarters. They could still end up winning it.
Team Melli, ranked 37 in the world, go into their final match with a chance to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history. Spain’s opening match against Portugal may have been the game of the tournament so far, but this fixture should have its own layers of intrigue.
A win is needed to guarantee qualification for Iran. If they claim a victory and Spain fail to win, they would reach the last 16 as group winners. For Portugal, a draw would be enough to go through.
As the nation ranked fourth in the world, and reigning European champions, Portugal should start as clear favourites.
However, Iran have a wildcard in their corner. Coach Carlos Queiroz had two spells managing his native Portugal, including at the 2010 World Cup, where they made the last 16. If Queiroz can utilise his inside knowledge, it may be a feat he replicates at the expense of his former employers.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
This is Iran and Portugal’s second World Cup encounter. In 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo’s first World Cup goal, and one from Deco, earned Portugal a 2-0 win.
Iran
Iran have never won their final World Cup group stage game (D1, L3), scoring three and conceding 10 in those matches.
Team Melli are winless against European opposition at the World Cup, losing six of their seven fixtures.
Iran failed to register a shot on target against Spain for the first time in 14 World Cup games.
The defeat to Spain was a first in 24 competitive matches overall.
Iran are aiming to win two group games at the World Cup for the first time.
During his time coaching Portugal, Iran boss Carlos Queiroz oversaw their biggest World Cup victory, a 7-0 win over North Korea in 2010.
Portugal
Portugal have won three of their four World Cup games against Asian opposition, losing against host nation South Korea in 2002.
Portugal’s 1-0 win over Morocco last time out was their first World Cup clean sheet in six attempts, since a goalless draw with Brazil in 2010.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored his country’s last five goals at the World Cup. The last player to do so for one nation was Russia’s Oleg Salenko in 1994, who scored six in a row.
Ronaldo has successfully converted all four of his shots on target at this World Cup.
Joao Moutinho could earn a 113th cap against Iran, overtaking Nani (112) to become Portugal’s third-most capped player. Only Ronaldo (152) and Luis Figo (127) have more.
I think this could be an interesting game. We saw, once they’d gone a goal behind against Spain, that Iran can play a bit. They really need to win this match to go through, so they’ll have to commit to going forward much more; this in turn will give Portugal more space and opportunity.
Looking forward to it. A large part of me (not that part) just wants to see Portugal go out because of Fonte and Ronaldo. And anyone who says thinking that way is childish is a poo-bum.
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I’m not a childish poo-bum but I have already got plans for my sweepstake winnings … CR7 will look after me. Not in any doubt.
Ya boo and stick it up your jumper with a jolly loud raspberry sounding fart. Tee hee.
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Hoping Iran get knocked out just to be rid of those fucking vuvuzelas.
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CR7 fucks the penalty up:
Penalty Iran Goal
Iran should have scored again
Never, ever, a penalty. Nuts use of VAR.
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I am out of the sweepstake. The profile pic change is underway. My predictions were once again, correct. Once again, I take no pride in this.
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Job done. Into the last 16. CR7 let me down when it mattered. I feel sorry for lickle Cedric though, never a pen. VAR is a joke. Apparently the Egyptians have already complained about this ref. Ding him out.
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Bottom of the group here.
If I hadn’t fleeced @lifeintheslowlane for an extra £5 I wouldn’t have slept tonight.
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I know you’d have never forgiven me if I passed-up your prompt, so…
Cunt!
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