Friday’s international friendly against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Atalanya, Turkey is expected to provide tactical tips for Iran on how to floor Egypt at this year’s FIFA World Cup, Sports247 gathered.
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Information on offer from Iran indicates that, with Egypt already pooled into the same group with Iran at the Mundial, officials hope their team will get tips from the Super Eagles regarding the North African country’s style of play.
As it were, the Super Eagles defeated Egypt on penalties to win bronze at the recent Africa Cup of Nations, a competition that many football analysts believe has its own peculiar strategies that are different from other continents.
In effect, though Iran and Egypt are both Arab nations, the need to get a feel of African tactics ahead of the World Cup has been cited as a major factor that spurred the Middle East country into accepting to play Nigeria.
Furthermore, in contrast with doubts about their ability to honour the game, due to military attacks from USA and Israel, a report out of Tehran indicates that Iran’s squad, known as Team Melli, has been cleared to play Nigeria on Friday and Costa Rica next week Tuesday.
To prove their availability for both games in Atalanya, Iran’s coach, Amir Ghalenoei invited 35 players to the national camp last week, and the coach quickly started plotting his tactics for a possible victory.
While information about their time of arrival in the Turkish city was not clearly stated, officials said the team will play both games because they are part of their preparations for the World Cup.
In the same vein, despite initial speculation that Iran will boycott the Mundial in protest of USA’s aggression, Ghalenoei is not ready to give up and wants to keep his players focused by keeping them busy during the FIFA international window.
“By selecting opponents from two different continents, the federation appears determined to challenge the team against varied playing styles ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
“Iran are drawn in Group G along with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand,” a report by Tehran Times revealed heading into Friday’s game.
Sports247 recalls that the only previous encounter between Iran and Nigeria at senior football level was a goalless draw between both sides at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
