Portugal has enjoyed success at the 2018 World Cup, but Cristiano Ronaldo & Co. can't afford a slip-up vs. Iran.
The two sides go head-to-head in Saransk, Russia, in one of two simultaneous Group B finales, with Spain and Morocco also wrapping up group play. Portugal enters the match tied with Spain on points, with both a point clear of Iran. Ronaldo's four goals have accounted for all of Portugal's scoring and carried the side to the cusp of the last 16, but Iran showed its defensive resolve against Spain, wilting just enough in a 1-0 loss, and won't be awed by Portugal's cast of stars.
Iran has a coach who knows the Portugal set-up well. Carlos Queiroz used to manage Portugal from 2008-2010, guiding the side to a last-16 place at the 2010 World Cup, and he'll look to pull one over on his old side while also guiding Iran to its first knockout berth ever.
Ronaldo, as he did in the first two matches, didn't waste time to get involved. In the third minute, he carved out space on the left-hand side of the box, firing a blast on frame, but right into the gut of goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, who made the save and then covered his own bobble without yielding a rebound.
Iran, as expected, bunkered and looked to get out on the counter, and its first chance to convert in that manner came in the seventh minute. Alireza Jahanbakhsh was sprung free down the right-hand side before crossing for Vahid Amiri at the top of the box. Instead of settling, he opted for a first-time chance, which was hit well wide left of the goal.
Iran averted a disaster in the 10th minute. Beiranvand was coming off his line to claim a ball in the box, but Saied Ezatolahi either didn't see or hear his goalkeeper and was first to volley it away. The ball landed for Joao Mario, 18 yards from an empty goal, but he fired high before the goalkeeper and his teammate got in a quick heated encounter.
Beiranvand's eventuful beginning to the match continued in the 13th minute, when he came out for one cross and whiffed and then had another slip through his hands, with ball falling right by his post only to be cleared to safety.
Stay tuned here for live updates and highlights of goals and key plays from throughout the match (refresh for most recent updates).
For Group B's other match going on simultaneously, check out the updates from Spain vs. Morocco here.
Here are the lineups for both teams:
Here are the rosters for both sides:
IRAN
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Rashid Mazaheri (Zob Ahan), Amir Abedzadeh (Maritimo)
Defenders: Ramin Rezaeian (Ostende), Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (Padideh), Morteza Pouraliganji (Alsaad), Pejman Montazeri (Esteghlal), Seyed Majid Hosseini (Esteghlal), Milad Mohammadi (Akhmat Grozny), Roozbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal)
Midfielders: Saeid Ezatolahi (Amkar Perm), Masoud Shojaei (AEK Athens), Mahdi Torabi (Saipa), Ashkan Dejagah (Notthingham Forest), Omid Ebrahimi (Esteghlal), Ehsan Hajsafi (Olympiacos), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis)
Forwards: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (AZ Alkmaar), Karim Ansarifard (Olympiacos), Saman Ghoddos (Ostersunds FK, Sweden), Mahdi Taremi (Al Gharafa), Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Heerenveen)
Manager: Carlos Queiroz
PORTUGAL
Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Beto (Goztepe), Rui Patrício (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Defenders: Bruno Alves (Rangers), Cédric Soares (Southampton), José Fonte (Dalian Yifang), Mário Rui (Nápoles), Pepe (Besiktas), Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund), Ricardo Pereira (FC Porto), Rúben Dias (Benfica)
Midfielders: Adrien Silva (Leicester), Bruno Fernandes (Sporting), João Mário (West Ham), João Moutinho (Mónaco), Manuel Fernandes (Lokomotiv), William Carvalho (Sporting)
Forwards: André Silva (Milan), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Gelson Martins (Sporting), Gonçalo Guedes (Valência), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas)
Manager: Fernando Santos
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