Bosnia and Herzegovina may bring back their striker Vedad Ibisevic against Iran later, who has appeared twice as a sub now in their first two games. While they have already been knocked out of the tournament, they will be looking to bow out with some points and a little pride; understandable given that this is their first World Cup tournament. Carlos Queiroz, the Iran manager, is understood to be reluctant to make any changes to a side that stood up well to the attentions of Lionel Messi and Co. in the 1-0 defeat to Argentina. He also understands that the Iranians absolutely must play for a win to have any chance of getting through the group and into the last sixteen.
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Queiroz has been at the centre of some controversy lately, after claiming that the ref in the Argentina game should have “trouble sleeping” after failing to award his side what looked to be a nailed on, stonewall penalty. Safet Susic is also under fire now after being widely blamed for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s early exit from the tournament, with his tactics and team selection being criticised heavily. In the qualifying stages of the the tournament, Susic used very daring tactics, usually fielding a very attack minded 4-4-2 diamond system. For some reason he changed to a very cautious 4-2-3-1 system, which blunted the Bosnian attack, bringing a measly one goal from thirty six attempts on target, which strangely enough was knocked in by substitute Ibisevic.
Susic is also getting flak after his very surprising decision to drop one of his better players from the squad against Nigeria. Leaving out Schalke’s Sead Kolasinac totally backfired on him with the winning goal being orchestrated and set up on that very side of the pitch that Kolasinac would normally have been patrolling. His next lineup will probably be something more like the ones employed in qualifying, with a return to the attack-minded 4-4-2 that brought them so much success, expected. Iran haven’t scored yet in the World Cup this year, but Iran are well marshalled, and very well disciplined and will come into this match expecting to have a chance of qualifying, even if it is only an outside chance that also hinges on results elsewhere.
Iran will go through on a win, however they will still need Nigeria to lose, which on paper looks likely as they are lining up against the deadly Argentina, a fixture they have failed to win in the last three meetings with the South American heavyweights. They also need to have a winning margin of one in their own game, and will additionally need the Nigerians to lose by one goal, with any contradicting result likely to send Iran home. Should Iran win 1-0, and the Nigerians lose 1-0, they will be exactly level on points and their World Cup fate will have to be decided by the drawing of lots, an unusual and unfortunate situation for any international team to be in.
