World Cup group B preview: England vs. Iran predictions, team news, possible starting XIs

Iran head coach Queiroz could be without Bayer Leverkusen forward Sardar Azmoun, who has not played since the start of October because of a groin issue. Should Azmoun miss out, this could see Porto’s Mehdi Taremi leading the attack against England. 

Possible starting XIs

England 

Jordan Pickford; John Stones, Eric Dier, Harry Maguire; Kieran Trippier, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Luke Shaw; Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling 

Iran 

Alireza Beiranvand; Sadegh Moharrami, Hossein Kanaanizadegan, Majid Hosseini, Ehsan Hajsafi; Ahmad Nourollahi, Saeid Ezatolahi, Omid Ebrahimi; Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Karim Ansarifard, Mehdi Taremi

Predictions

England are “hardly the most entertaining side around” as it is, said Gorrie in the London Evening Standard. Southgate’s team are “expected to win” and it’s “hard to imagine” the game proving much more than attritional. Prediction: England 1 Iran 0. 

All the pressure “will be on Southgate’s side”, said Ned Holmes on RadioTimes.com. And this will “certainly suit their opponents” in the group B opener. It just “wouldn’t be England in a major tournament” if they didn’t make things “a bit difficult for themselves” initially, but “come through at the last”. Prediction: England 2 Iran 1.

Up against the highest-ranked Asian side, England’s “spluttering frontline” may come under “even more scrutiny” in what could be a tough start to the World Cup, said Grey Whitebloom on 90min.com. Prediction: England 1 Iran 1.

Despite Iran “probably being stronger than many anticipate”, England are “still justifiably heavy favourites”, said David Segar on The Analyst. According to “our supercomputer’s prediction model”, the Three Lions have a “72.2% chance” of opening with a win, while the draw is rated at 18.1%. It would be a “moment to remember” should Iran “pull off an upset”, but Queiroz’s men have “just a 9.7% chance of victory”.

The stadium 

Located in Ar-Rayyan, west of Doha, the Khalifa International Stadium was originally built in 1976 and redeveloped for the World Cup. Six group games will be played at the 45,416-capacity venue as well as one round of 16 fixture and the third/fourth-placed play-off match.

Squads 

England 

• Head coach: Gareth Southgate
• Key player: Harry Kane
• One to watch: Bukayo Saka
• Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
• Defenders: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Benjamin White (Arsenal), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Conor Coady (Everton, on loan from Wolves), Luke Shaw (Man Utd)
• Midfielders: Declan Rice (West Ham), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Man City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Mason Mount (Chelsea)
• Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Callum Wilson (Newcastle), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Man City), James Maddison (Leicester City)

Iran

• Head coach: Carlos Queiroz
• Key player: Sardar Azmoun
• One to watch: Ali Gholizadeh
• Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Amir Abedzadeh (Ponferradina), Seyed Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal), Payam Niazmand (Sepahan)
• Defenders: Ehsan Hajsafi (AEK Athens), Morteza Pouraliganji (Persepolis), Ramin Rezaeian (Sepahan), Milad Mohammadi (AEK Athens), Hossein Kanaanizadegan (Al Ahli), Shojae Khalilzadeh (Al Ahli), Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb), Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Majid Hosseini (Kayserispor), Abolfazl Jalali (Esteghlal)
• Midfielders: Ahmad Noorollahi (Shabab Al Ahli), Saman Ghoddos (Brentford), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis), Saeid Ezatolahi (Vejle), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord), Mehdi Torabi (Persepolis), Ali Gholizadeh (Charleroi), Ali Karimi (Kayserispor)
• Forwards: Karim Ansarifard (Omonia Nicosia), Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen), Mehdi Taremi (Porto) Fifa

Group B fixtures

Monday 21 November

• England vs. Iran (Khalifa International Stadium; 1pm; BBC)
• USA vs. Wales (Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium; 7pm; ITV/S4C)

Friday 25 November

• Wales vs. Iran (Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium; 10am; BBC/S4C) 
• England vs. USA (Al Bayt Stadium; 7pm; ITV)

Tuesday 29 November

• Wales vs. England (Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium; 7pm; BBC/S4C)
• Iran vs. USA (Al Thumama Stadium; 7pm; BBC)

Article source: https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/sport/football/958568/fifa-world-cup-group-b-england-vs-iran-preview-predictions