Iran need to score their own goals against Spain, Portugal

Reuters: An own goal in stoppage time seemingly sent from the heavens gave Iran a 1-0 win over Morocco in their World Cup opener but they will need their own players to find a way to score against heavyweights Spain and Portugal if they hope to advance.

With his forwards spurning a number of chances at St Petersburg Stadium, Iran coach Carlos Queiroz doubtless noted how Morocco’s hapless Aziz Bouhaddouz made by far the most telling intervention by heading in Ehsan Hajsafi’s free kick.

It was a mistake, of course, and a howling one at that, but also quite the biggest test Morocco keeper Munir Mohamedi had to face on a gloomy evening for the North Africans.

Iran, of course, partied like it was 1998, which was the last time they had won a match at a World Cup despite qualifying for two further tournaments before Russia.

Iran have never advanced beyond the tournament’s group stage in four previous efforts but now have a decent shot at it, even with the Iberian powers dominating Group B, one of Russia’s toughest pools.