Analysis by famous website gives Iran 18% chance to progress from group B

[teammelli91]

So they mention Ziyech from AJAX...but omit Jahanbaksh who was top scorer in the same league? Lame. Inshallah Iran proves the world wrong, regardless of how insanely difficult that will be.

Baba forget about these *** edited*** naysayers.
Look how many people kiss Lozano's ass as if he's the next Neymar, when Ali wins the golden boot and countless back to back player of the week/goal of the week/the month.
It's political. Politicians who have their fingers in sports can't stand an Iranian rising up to the surface.
I say screw them. The world will find out soon enough which one of these 3 can execute with their national team

[Adesor Vafaseya]

Another analysis, Christian Vieri seems to like Iran:

They didnt let him talk, you gotta watch this one “whats your love affair with Iran?”
go to the last 2 mins:

http://www.beinsports.com/us/fifa-world-cup/video/the-xtra-world-cup-group-b-preview/895561

[Paradigm]

wow. 18% is rather optimistic.
I'll take it any day

You can read an analysis of Morocco here: https://www.theguardian.com/football...d-hakim-ziyech
The article says their goalkeeper is their weak link. However they have players from Real Madrid and Ajax in their squad.

Also the report below is taken from https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation....portugal-spain

THE SQUAD

Bounou, Hakimi, Mendyl, Da Costa, Benatia (c), Saiss, Ziyech, El Hamadi, El Kaabi, Belhanda, Fajr, Mohamedi, Boutaïb, Boussoufa, Bennasser, N. Amrabat, Dirar, Harit, En-Nesyri, Bouhaddouz, S. Amrabat, Tagnaouti, Carcela. (Manager: Hervé Renard)

PLAYER TO WATCH

Medhi Benatia is the key to this Moroccan squad given his experience in Europe’s top leagues, namely with Juventus, Bayern Munich and Roma. A strong leader with decent, if not express, pace and elite positioning skills, he’s established himself as one of the premier defenders in European football, despite a relative lack of game time during his stints at Juve and Bayern due to the vast defensive stocks of both clubs. A respectable ball player, Benatia’s athleticism and skill will be key in shutting down opposition raids.

UNDER THE RADAR

Dutch-born midfielder Hakim Ziyech has established himself as an important member of the Ajax midfield during his two seasons at the club and will be looking to do the same for Morocco in Russia. A goal-scoring creative midfielder, he scored 9 goals in the Eredivisie last term in 34 appearances and was rewarded with a spot in the Atlas Lions midfield. Tall for a number 10, the 25-year-old brings youth and flair, and with 8 international goals already in 17 appearances, looks like a long term option for Morocco.

KEY MAN OUT

If there is a strength in the Morocco side, it’s definitely in their midfield, with a number of creative influences including the Amrabat brothers, Mbark Boussoufa and Hakim Ziyech. Therefore, Southampton midfielder Sofiane Boufal can consider himself unlucky to not be included in the 23 man squad. A lack of goal scoring output can be pointed to, as Boufal has only managed three league goals in his two years on the south coast, with Ziyech preferred in his role.

ANALYSIS/PREDICTIONS

Morocco definitely have talent across the park, including a strong foundation at the back with Benatia and creative midfield generals in Boussoufa and Ziyech. The weakness lies in the relative lack of experience and productivity in the strike force, with the four listed attackers (El Kaabi, Boutaib, Bouhaddouz and En-Nesyri) only having 55 international caps combined. Morocco will need to rely on midfield dominance in order to advance from this tough group, but that may be a struggle against Spain and Portugal, who will try and starve them of any meaningful possession.

CHELSEA CONNECTIONS

Mbark Boussoufa - 2001-2004 - Youth Player (h/t user theRamster_again! in the comments)

QUALIFYING FORM

Morocco breezed through the final round of CAF qualifying, winning Group C ahead of Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon and Mali. Morocco did not concede a goal in their 6 games, scoring 11 themselves. They did have three 0-0 draws but thumped Mali 6-0 and travelled well, defeating Côte d’Ivoire 2-0 on their turf.

Played: 6. Won: 3. Drawn: 3. Lost: 0. Goals For: 11. Goals Conceded: 0. Points: 12.

[eerooni]

So they mention Ziyech from AJAX...but omit Jahanbaksh who was top scorer in the same league? Lame. Inshallah Iran proves the world wrong, regardless of how insanely difficult that will be.

Iran in general is a total unknown to almost 80% of the world, let me elaborate: 90% probably know we exist as a country somewhere in Asia, but thats it! Not even some Arabs in neighbouring countries know much about Iran!! I know coz I traveled across the ME and what they all know is what they see on TV: basically a tough country , with angry people, despotic, slightly backward, with goats, donkeys and old cars on the streets and rich in Oil, looking to wipe Israel off the map!! I show them youtube videos on life in Iran and they think its "hollywoood special Effects"!!! So when Five Thirty eight writes about Iran, they dont even take the time to see what we were, who we are now and where our nation and our football is going! case in Point they Omit Ali Daei as world Top scorer and JB as Dutch Golden boot for 2018!!!!

[DireStraits]

There is a chance that Portogal wins first day against Spain. If they also win morocco there is a chance they also send their reserve team to face Iran if for instance has tied Spain. Then Iran can go to next round. Lots of things may happen. Our chance I say is 30%.

[hasan]

Goldman-Sachs (top Wall Street bank) has a simulation using AI which shows this bracket for the World Cup. (Spain loses to France in the round of 16, and Brazil beats Germany in the final.) They also have found that Russia won't come out of group A.
[ATTACH]18093[/ATTACH]

It says invalid attachment.
So what does it say about Iran?

[Paradigm]

This is considered the most reliable prediction of all, by Soccermatics.

Group A
Uruguay -110
Russia +160
Egypt +500
Saudi Arabia +4000

Group B
Spain -220
Portugal +220
Morocco +1600
Iran +4000

Group C
France -425
Denmark +550
Peru +1000
Australia +2000

Group D
Argentina -200
Croatia +250
Nigeria +1200
Iceland +1200

Group E
Brazil -450
Switzerland +700
Serbia +800
Costa Rica +2000

Group F
Germany -325
Mexico +500
Sweden +700
South Korea +2000

Group G
Belgium -140
England +120
Tunisia +2200
Panama +4000

Group H
Columbia +120
Poland +180
Senegal +500
Japan +700

[forzatm]

It says invalid attachment.
So what does it say about Iran?

http://www.goldmansachs.com/our-thinking/pages/world-cup-2018/multimedia/report.pdf

They predict that we will finish the group with 2 draws and 1 loss.

[versusdamon]

Here are the updated statistics:

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2018-world-cup-predictions/

[versusdamon]

It is pretty interesting, Iran gets an Soccer Power Index (SPI) of about 65 - that is what average Bundesliga teams get (like Hertha BSC Berlin). Or in other leagues Sporting Lissabon, Dynamo Kiev. I would call that 3rd/4th tier European teams (1st being the likes of Real, Bayern, Barca - or Spain; 2nd Dortmund, Arsenal, Roma - or Portugal; 3rd Lyon, Schalke - or Morocco) - teams that usually compete for Europa League.
They give Iran a 27% winning probability against Morocco (33% tie), 6 % against Spain (17% tie), 14 % against Portugal (27% tie).

[Paradigm]

Iran's chance of progression from group B has now improved to 34% per 538 website.

Players need to practice direct free kicks. Get them on target or try indirect scenarios!

[Paradigm]

A very good and recent analysis of Spain: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-cu...ker-certainly/

Using a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system, the Spanish full-backs get forward, the centre-backs come up for set-pieces, Sergio Busquets is the bridge between defence and midfield and the rest of the team share the remaining positions, swapping and switching places fluidly. With players like Thiago, Iniesta, David Silva and Isco, it makes sense to play a possession-based game, and Spain build patiently until they have the opposition pinned back in their own half, before firing those quick one-twos that are the undoing of so many a defence. Occasionally they line up without a striker and allow a combination of number 10s to work in the space left behind, but Iago Aspas, Rodrigo and Diego Costa offer something different, providing a killer blow to the gentle jabbing of Spain's passing. Diego Costa is a snarling, determined defensive forward - the kind Spain need when they aren't able to tap their way through and around opponents, while Iago Aspas and Rodrigo are cunning, quick strikers who like to run off the shoulder of the last man. All three players give Spain the chance to hit longer, more direct passes and prevent them becoming tedious and predictable.

[persian_pooya]

Our odds to advance have gone up to 34%!

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2018-world-cup-predictions/

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[darvish_gorgali]

Iran's chance of progression from group B has now improved to 34% per 538 website.

Players need to practice direct free kicks. Get them on target or try indirect scenarios!

def we need to work on free kicks and long balls using fast attacker like gucci agains pique since he is slow and can be sloppy sometimes.

[GoIran]

Our odds to advance have gone up to 34%!

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2018-world-cup-predictions/

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Saudi Arabia - 3%