England vs Iran preview
The FIFA World Cup is set to start on November 20, with Qatar taking on Ecuador in the opening match. And the next day comes a triple header, with England facing Iran in the first match of Group B. While England have arrived in Qatar as one of the favourites, Iran’s main aim will be to at least qualify for the round of 16. It has been 56 years since the Three Lions won their last and only World Cup title.
Now Gareth Southgate has arrived with an impressive squad with the right combination of talent and experience. However, there were still notable omissions in the team, such as Ivan Toney, Fikayo Tomori, and James Ward Prowse. Despite this, the English have a formidable squad capable of going toe-to-toe with any team.
The team has also shown its mettle in the big tournaments by reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup. They also finished runner-ups in the 2020 Euros defeating teams such as Croatia and Germany. And English fans will be hoping that the team manages to clear the final hurdle this time.
Meanwhile, Iran were brilliant in their qualification process, losing just one match to South Korea in the third round. Sardar Azmoun was the top scorer with ten goals, followed by Karim Ansarifard and Mehdi Taremi with seven each. However, despite having one of the strongest squads in Asia, the Iranians have massively underperformed and still to win any title.
However, the Iranians are the masters of low-block defending, as is evident by their previous World Cup performances. Therefore, the team will be heavily relying on counterattacks which Azmoun will be required to be at his best if Iran is to qualify for the next round.
One day to go until the @FIFAWorldCup draw is made! 🏆
Here’s everything you need to know 👇
— England (@England) March 31, 2022
There is no one better: The top 10 players ever to play in FIFA World Cup history
England vs Iran team news
The only thing that will be worrying Gareth Southgate in Qatar is the fitness of right-back Kyle Walker. Since being sidelined by a groyne injury at the start of October, the defender has not featured for Manchester City in any match. However, Southgate still put his trust in the veteran player. Initial reports indicate that he is facing a considerable challenge to be fit in time for the first clash. However, England have quality backups in Keiran Trippier and Trent Alexander Arndol, with the…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at FootTheBall…