World Cup group B: Iran vs. Spain team news, kick-off time and TV channel
Spain are looking for their first victory at the World Cup in Russia
Iran vs. Spain
- When: Wednesday 20 June
- Kick-off time: 7pm
- Where: Kazan Arena, Kazan
- TV channel: live on ITV
Spain came into the World Cup with a late change of coach and were held in their opening match by a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Portugal.
The 2010 winners have Fernando Hierro in charge after he replaced Real Madrid-bound Julen Lopetegui just two days before the 3-3 draw with Portugal.
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Spain forward Isco has praised Hierro for taking on the challenge and for not making huge changes. Isco told the media: “He [Hierro] knows what he’s doing. There haven’t been many changes because he knows that we work well with what we already have.
“It has been tough for him to face this without expecting it, but I see him very well, very concentrated and he trusts us a lot.”
Iran’s late victory against Morocco put them top of group B after matchday one. An own-goal by Morocco substitute Aziz Bouhaddouz gave the Iranians a first World Cup win since 1998.
Carlos Queiroz’s side will be underdogs against the Spanish but goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand says they will fight until the last minute at the Kazan Arena.
Beiranvand said: “Everybody knows that Spain is one of the greatest teams in football history, and one thing that we can guarantee is that the Spanish team will not have an easy time against us. Everybody knows that our boys are fighters, and we will fight and we will keep our concentration until the very last second of the match.���
Team news
Fifa.com reporter Antia Andre Hernandez says Spain will wait and see if Daniel Carvajal will be fit to start at right-back. But his replacement, Nacho, scored a stunning goal against Portugal and put in an “assured performance”.
Iran vs. Spain predicted starting XIs
How the two teams could line up at the Kazan Arena, according to Fifa.com.
- Iran (3-4-3): Ali Beiranvand; Ramin Rezaeian, Morteza Pouraliganji, Pejman Montazeri; Masoud Shojaei, Saeid Ezatolahi, Ehsan Haji Safi, Omid Ebrahimi; Vahid Amiri, Sardar Azmoun, Alireza Jahanbakhsh
- Spain (4-5-1): David de Gea; Jordi Alba, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Nacho; Sergio Busquets, Thiago Alcantara, Andres Iniesta, Isco, David Silva; Diego Costa
World Cup group B results, fixtures and live TV channels
- Morocco 0 Iran 1
- Portugal 3 Spain 3
- 20 June: Portugal vs. Morocco (1pm, BBC); Iran vs. Spain (7pm, ITV)
- 25 June: Spain vs. Morocco (7pm, BBC); Iran vs. Portugal (7pm, BBC)
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