Fox Sports: Asian teams at the 2018 World Cup graded [Iran]

Fox Sports Asia – HONG KONG, The first round of the World Cup is over and the second round is about to start. But how can we grade the Asian teams in Russia after the group stages?

IRAN: B+
Iran were in a very tough group but got the same number of points as Japan and that is a source of pride and frustration. The world saw what Asia has known for some time; this is a team with talent, discipline and plenty more besides.

They beat a very good Morocco team, lost 1-0 to Spain to an unlucky goal and then drew 1-1 with Portugal in an epic battle. Four points is sometimes enough, sometimes not. On this occasion, it wasn’t but it was an impressive return.

Nobody outside Asia will be underestimating Iran again. Has they been in a different group, Group A for example, then they surely would have gone through to the second round. As it was, Team Melli were only a few inches away from Mehdi Taremi, still one of the most under-rated players in Asia, putting them into the next stage.

Cristiano Ronaldo will not forget this game in a hurry and all will remember just how good Iran were.