Argentina vs. Iran begins at noon, Eastern Standard Time today and will be available online via live stream free. The 2014 World Cup Group F match features an Argentina team known for its attack and an Iran team with a stingy defense.
Argentina can ensure themselves a spot in the elimination round with a victory over Iran today, but they’ll have to overcome a much stouter defense than they faced in their 2-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegnovina. Iran, for their part, will need to find a way to get the ball in the net after a 0-0 draw against Nigeria.
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz acknowledged that Argentina is the team to beat in Group F, while suggesting that the Iran team has been unjustly overlooked. According to a Yahoo Sports report, he put it this way:
“Our match with Argentina will be the most important and biggest match in Iran’s football history. I still believe the majority assume there are only three teams in Group F, with the experts believing that Argentina is the top team in this group, while either Nigeria, or Bosnia ranking 2nd. Of course they are right about Argentina. We consider it as the greatest challenge before us. We will try to display a challenging spirit.”
The coach also lamented the difficulty Iran has had in arranging friendlies in the run up to the 2014 World Cup, in large part because of the economic sanctions which have been levied against Iran by the United States and other Western countries.
With reports surfacing that suggest Argentina will play a 4-3-3 against Iran — who has given up only one goal in their last five games — it’s impossible to write Iran off, despite the fact that Argentina is heavily favored . Still, with a front line that includes Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, and Gonzalo Higuaín, it’s hard to imagine Iran keeping Argentina from finding the net. Since Iran has also failed to score in three of their last five matches, it’s hard to picture them winning today’s Argentina vs. Iran match.
Barring a stunning upset, Argentina should have little trouble sweeping Group F in group play. Realistically, Iran needs to play to at least a draw today and hope that Bosnia and Nigeria also play to a draw. While their game against Bosnia is winnable, their lack of a viable attack makes it unlikely that they’ll advance on point differential should they finish in a tie for second in Group F.
You can watch today’s Argentina vs. Iran match free on live stream here.
[Image via Bing]
