2014 World Cup (June 2014)

Following the Asian Championship qualifiers, Iran geared up for the World Cup with a number of friendlies against lowly opposition (Guinea, Belarus, Montenegro, Angola and Trinidad & Tobago). In spite of the inferior quality of such teams, Iran posted a disappointing 1-1-3 record against them and averaging less than a goal per game. While goals were scarce, the team were never easily beaten – a trait that was certainly present in an Iranian team that let in only two goals during eight round-robin games in the final qualifying stage. A happy knack of finding big goals at crucial times added to an air of mental toughness and hopes of advancing to the second round. However, there were plenty of obstacles along the way. The lack of funds as a result of nuclear-related sanctions led to embarrassment for the players as the Iranian Football Federation opted to order cheap, poor quality kits, and the federation’s president, Ali Kafashian, was reported to have told the players to wash them in cold water to avoid shrinkage. He also allegedly advised players not to exchange shirts with opponents in Brazil in order to preserve the available uniforms. Training camps and more preparatory games were also cancelled for financial reasons. One training camp in South Africa was marred by a dispute between the football federation and Iran’s top teams because it coincided with the Asian Champions League, the continent’s top club competition resulting in team owners blocking some of their players from attending the camp. Iran’s final roster had a few surprises. Khalatbari who had done so well during the campaign failed to make the cut while defender Beikzadeh lost his spot due to heel injury while facing Montenegro. In goal some considered Ahmadi having earned the right to start due to him filling in the shoes of Rahmati during a crucial time of need. Others preferred Davari due to his European experience. In the end Haghighi would relegate both of them to the bench. Grouped with Argentina, Bosnia and Nigeria, Iran was one of the first countries to arrive n Brazil.

Iran opened its campaign against Nigeria, the reigning African champions who took this as their best chance of a World Cup win in nine attempts going back to 1998 when Iran also celebrated their solitary victory over the USA. 

 

The Nigerians started with an attacking intent but ran out of ideas as the match wore on. They actually had the ball in the net as early as the 7th minute the referee ruled it out for a foul on Haghighi. Moments later Emenike muscled Hosseini off the ball and crossed from the left but the opportunity was not seized and Onazi’s follow-up effort rolled inches wide of the post. 

 

Musa also troubled Haghighi with a clever freekick from 30 yards that had him scrambling back across his goal to save just inside his right hand post. The best chance of the half fell to Iran 11 minutes before the break from their first corner of the game. Dejagah swung over the corner from the right and Ghoochannejad met it with a firm header that brought a smart save from Vincent Enyeama who until then had been a virtual spectator.  

The second half produced little better with Ameobi going close with two headers. At the game’s conclusion there were boos and whistles and fans were unimpressed. While this would be the 2014 World Cup’s first goalless draw, it would also mark the first time that Iran recorded a clean sheet in the finals.

Next up was two-time World Champion Argentina. 

 

Given Iran’s lackluster display against Nigeria, and Argentina boasting a star studded lineup featuring Messi, few would have expected Argentina to be given too much of a test by a team that had never gone beyond the first round of a World Cup in three previous appearances. Argentina unsurprisingly dictated the opening stages without creating any clear-cut opportunities against an Iran defense that displayed the same determination as against Nigeria. Higuain was the first to test the Iran backline after 13 minutes but Haghigi showed quick reactions to race out and block his effort after he had been played through. 

Higuain was involved again as he linked up with Sergio Aguero inside the area, only to see their curling effort brilliantly kept out by a fine diving save from Haghigi. Aguero then headed wide from a corner as Argentina's dominance of play continued, yet Iran, with impressive commitment and organization, did not have too much difficulty in keeping the South Americans at bay. Iran's ability to maintain parity also owed much to Argentina's profligacy, which was demonstrated in the 35^th minute when defender Ezequiel Garay headed a Messi free kick over the crossbar from close range. Iran was able to fashion some first half opportunities of their own, the best of which came in the 41^st minute as Hosseini turned Dejagah's corner narrowly wide of the post. Zabaleta went close from the edge of the area in the opening stages of the second half, but it was Iran who continued to look more threatening. Indeed, they would have taken the lead in the 53^rd minute had Ghoochannejhad not directed his header straight at Argentina’s keeper following a fine break. 

Iran felt they should have been awarded a penalty a minute later after Zabaleta appeared to bring down Dejagah, with replays suggesting that the South Americans had been given a let-off. 

 

The incident sparked a furious response from the Iranian players but referee Milorad Mazic waved away their appeals. 

"It should have been a penalty and red card. There's no excuse. There's nothing that can explain (why) this Serbian referee (did) not give the penalty," Queiroz would later tell reporters. At the other end, Messi failed to find a finish after surging forward with an archetypal run from midfield and curling wide of the post. With time running out, Romero was called into action to tip Dejagah's header over. 

Iran had an even better chance when Ghoochannejhad was sent clear one-on-one but saw his somewhat tired finish parried. But just as Iran looked set to celebrate their famous point, Messi struck. The Barcelona man worked space on the edge of the area in the 91^st minute before opening his body to bend a shot into the corner for a 1-0 victory.

 

In spite of the loss Iran headed into their final group game with Bosnia and Herzegovina knowing that they were still alive and that victory with the correct margin could be enough to extend their tournament.  

While Bosnia had been mathematically eliminated, however, their determination of leaving with a result was abundantly clear. While the ref waived off a penalty claim by Hajsafi on one end of the field, Dzeko’s venomous volley from ten yards took a deflection over the crossbar while later he stretched his neck to redirect a promising cross but only for his header to loop into the hands of Haghighi. In the 23^rd minute, with seemingly little danger to Carlos Queiroz’s well-drilled Iranians, Dzeko collected a simple pass into space midway inside the opposition half. He pushed forward, dribbled across the defense and unleashed an unstoppable, low left-footer into the right corner from outside the box for a 1-0 lead. 

Iran was almost level within seconds; attacking along the right flank, the ball was worked back to the near edge of the penalty area and Shojaei’s attempt struck the underside of the crossbar while Ghoochannejad failed to convert the rebound (although he was whistled offside anyway). 

Later an incisive Bosnian through pass dissected the Iranian backline and released Vrsajevic although he ultimately knocked the ball well wide to the left. In the second half Hosseini surrendered possession far too cheaply deep inside his own half and, in the blink of an eye, Bosnia and Herzegovina doubled their advantage. Susic threaded a perfectly weighted assist into the adjoining run in the left channel by Pjanic who curled a side-foot hit around the stretch of Haghighi. 

Having had one effort blocked and sent another wide, late in the game Ghoochannejad finally opened the tournament account for Queiroz’s men by tapping home after being found completely unmarked at the back post by Nekounam’s drill across the goalmouth. 

But before Iran could even dream of a comeback, Vrsajevic promptly sprinted down the right wing and lashed a powerful shot off the post and into the back of the net. 

With the 3-1 loss Iran finished bottom of the group and was eliminated from the World Cup.

Iran roster: Haghighi, Ahmadi, Davari, Heydari, Hosseini, Sadeghi, Mahini, Montazeri, Alehemeh, Beikzadeh, Beitashour, Pouladi, Hajsafi, Nekounam, Shojaei, Haghighi, Haddadifar, Teymourian, Rahmani, Dejagah, Jahanbakhsh, Ansarifard, Ghoochannejad. Coach: Queiroz