Iran vs Spain: TV channel, live stream, squad news & preview

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Iran vs Spain: TV channel, live stream, squad news & preview image

Spain join Portugal on six points in Group B, while Iran drop to third. It's still all to play for on Monday in the final group games, although Iran will need to beat Cristiano Ronaldo and company to seal a spot in the round of 16. 

Spain were made to work for it but Diego Costa's rather fortunate goal has given La Roja their first victory of the 2018 World Cup. Iran worked hard defensively and thought they had their moment in the second half but VAR ruled it out for offside, although there's no complaints as it was the correct decision.

Alireza Beiranvand Iran World Cup

FULL-TIME: IRAN 0-1 SPAIN


90+2 mins: YELLOW CARD! A late yellow card for Ebrahimi, who lunges in and concedes a foul.

90 mins: Into four minutes of added time.

89 mins: SUB! Time for Spain's final change, as goalscorer Costa makes way for Rodrigo.

88 mins: Spain have not buckled under the pressure, they remain playing their own game and they haven't shown any signs of concern.

86 mins: SUB! Third and final change for Iran, as Amiri is replaced by Ghoddos.

85 mins: There's still time for Iran to snatch something but, equally, Spain look like they could put the final nail in the coffin.

83 mins: CHANCE! That was the moment! Amiri lofts a perfect cross into the middle after nutmegging Pique with superb skill and Taremi rises highest in the area but sends his header over the bar!

82 mins: There's space for Iran to exploit when they get forward, as Alba and Carvajal are pushing forward at every opportunity, but the final ball has been lacking.

80 mins: SUB! Asensio makes his World Cup bow as he enters the frame to replace Real Madrid team-mate Vazquez.

79 mins: YELLOW CARD! First yellow of the game as Amiri catches Carvajal with a clumsy challenge. He's pleading his case but he can't have too many arguments with that.

77 mins: Vazquez wins a free-kick in a very dangerous area. Isco and David Silva both lurk over the ball with intent but it's the former who strikes, smashes an effort into the wall.

75 mins: CHANCE! Iran float a dangerous cross into the area that's just ahead of the attackers.

74 mins: SUB! Iran make their second change of the game, replacing Ansarifard with ​Jahanbakhsh.

73 mins: Iran are pushing forward more but they remain very composed at the back. They know all it could take is one chance for them to make history.

71 mins: SUB! Spain make their first change, with Koke taking the place of Iniesta.

70 mins: CHANCE! A clever corner sees Iniesta come short before cutting the ball back to Ramos, who smashes a shot at goal and it results in a scramble on the goal line. Eventually, Iran get the free-kick.

69 mins: Safi, the Iran skipper, is down and requiring treatment for the second time in the match. He's just given the armband to someone else and looks set to make way.

SUB! Confirmation of the Iran change, as Mohammadi takes Safi's place.

67 mins: Spain are about to make the game's first change, with Koke getting some final instructions from Hierro.

65 mins: Heartbreaking for Iran but it has provided them with some encouragement. Spain still don't look comfortable and there's still plenty of time to go.

Iran Spain VAR World Cup

64 mins: NO GOAL! Rezaeian got a slight touch to the free-kick as it was curled in before Ezatolahi smashed home. Iran have their magical moment snatched away from them.

62 mins: VAR! Iran have the ball in the back of the net but VAR is checking for offside!

60 mins: WIDE! Iran are getting forward and Taremi flicks a header towards goal, which bounces wide of De Gea's left-hand post.

59 mins: Isco has come to life in the second half as he tries to dance his way down the left, performing his own swan lake routine to find room. It's incredible that this is only his first international tournament.

57 mins: The noise levels inside the stadium have not reduced despite Spain taking the lead, it's incredible.

55 mins: That goal came just after Iran's big chance and it's difficult not to imagine what might have been. It will be interesting to see if they're more willing to attack now or if they'll stick to their defensive approach.

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54 mins: GOAL! Spain get their breakthrough, 1-0! Iniesta feeds a ball to Costa inside the box and he turns superbly, then having the ball kicked against him and into the bottom corner before he could shoot himself. It's his third goal of the tournament and Spain finally take the lead.

53 mins: WIDE! Almost a golden moment for Iran! The ball drops to Ansarifard and he fires a fierce shot that has De Gea beaten but it smashes into the side netting.

52 mins: Spain looking more dangerous as Carvajal finds room on the right to cut into the box, pulling a pass back to Isco who smashes a shot over the bar under pressure from a defender.

50 mins: SAVE! Busquets fires for goal and forces a save from Beiranvand, who also palms the rebound before Vazquez can tuck home.

49 mins: CHANCE! Isco's corner is flicked on by Pique and causes problems inside the 6 yard box, before being hooked off the line.

48 mins: You'll be shocked to hear that Iran are back in their defensive third, with Spain playing the ball around trying to find any sort of room to work with.

46 mins: KICK-OFF! Iran get us back underway for the second half. 


Will be interesting to see how Hierro changes things tactically as the game progresses, after all it is just his second game in charge of Spain. The plan for Queiroz will be to keep it contained as a point here would give them an opportunity to seal a spot in the last 16 - something that not many would have dreamed of before the tournament began.

45 minutes of attack against defence and, so far, Iran have managed to keep the former world champions at bay. Spain have dominated possession but, against a packed defensive line, haven't been able to test Beiranvand properly. At the other end, De Gea has had nothing to do.

Isco Omid Ebrahimi Spain Iran World Cup

HALF-TIME! IRAN 0-0 SPAIN


45+2 mins: Another fantastic block from the Iran defence prevents David Silva from finding the net from outside of the box. 

45+1 mins: Into three minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

44 mins: Costa hasn't seen too much of the ball, which isn't surprising given the number of players Iran have behind the ball, and it might lead to a change in tactics for Hierro. Someone like Asensio could provide the key to a breakthrough.

42 mins: Iran skipper Safi is back on the field, by the way, taking his place in the middle of the defensive blockade.

41 mins: Despite having 80.2% possession, Spain have only managed one shot on target so far in this game.

38 mins: Another break in play as Iran captain Safi requires treatment on the edge of the Spain area and it doesn't look good. We could see an early change.

36 mins: A rare charge forward for Iran, who win a corner as Ramos is forced to head Rezaeian's cross away. It's met by a lively reaction from the fans but the delivery is dealt with.

34 mins: Spain are still not getting their own way but they won't let it change their approach. The patient play continues, as they switch the ball from left to right and try to create some space to work with.

32 mins: Iran are not giving Spain any room to work with and Hierro's side are yet to craft a decent opportunity of their own. It's a game that looks likely to be settled by just a single goal.

30 mins: Best Spain move of the match as Iniesta and Isco combine superbly on the edge of the box, with the former winning a corner. It's taken short and eventually put into the middle, where David Silva acrobatically flicks an effort over the bar.

28 mins: The danger for Iran is that one goal would completely ruin their game plan. They're certainly here for the draw and they haven't offered too much in attack.

26 mins: Iran’s last three World Cup goals have all come in the final 15 minutes of matches – they have never scored before the 36th minute in a World Cup match.

25 mins: David Silva strikes at goal and, despite taking a deflection off the wall, it's another easy collect for Beiranvand.

24 mins: Ezatolahi requires treatment, leading to a brief break in the match, and we'll return for another Spain free-kick in a threatening position.

22 mins: Iran are conceding a number of free-kicks with some clumsy challenges and Ramos is the man standing over the latest set-piece. He drives at goal and the ball deflects up in the air before being collected by Beiranvand.

20 mins: I'm not sure what parking the bus is in Persian but Iran have definitely adopted that approach.

18 mins: Spain remain very patient in possession and, if there's any side who can claw their way through a packed defence, it's them. Iran will be delighted with the start to the game though.

16 mins: Ramos barges the referee out of the way to loft a ball into the middle but Beiranvand is off his line to snatch away any danger.

14 mins: It's been all Spain so far but Beiranvand is yet to be tested. Iran's defensive line is looking very solid.

12 mins: Busquets is caught late by Azmoun, earning the Iran striker a stern telling off from the referee and giving Spain a decent area for a free-kick. David Silva clips a cross to Ramos, who heads back across goal but it's cleared away by the Iran defence.

10 mins: Alba's delivery is good but a few inches above the heads of the Spain men in the middle and it's behind for an Iran throw on the opposing side.

9 mins: Isco is barged to ground out wide on the left, giving Spain an opportunity to curl a cross into the middle. 

7 mins: Iran are set to try and hit Spain on the counter, showing no desire to press in an attacking half and instead sitting back to defend the goal. Spain aren't finding room to work with at the moment.

5 mins: First attacking surge for Iran as they try to force a way through, winning a free-kick out wide that's cheered like a goal by the fans.

3 mins: Spain already working through the gears in the early stages, with Iran packed into the defence to try and limit the space available.

1 min: KICK-OFF! Spain get us underway in Kazan!


HERE WE GO...

We're yet to see any of the big nations really stake a claim for themselves so far in the World Cup, so tonight is an opportunity for Spain to lay down a marker. Alternatively, an unlikely victory for Iran would see them qualify for the round of 16 for the first time in their history.

Spain have conceded 10 goals in their last four World Cup matches – as many as in their previous 15 World Cup matches combined.

Spain make two changes to the side that drew 3-3 with Portugal, bringing in Carvajal and Vazquez. Nacho, despite finding the net in that match, drops to the bench along with Isco. Pique will earn his 100th cap for La Roja.

Iran make three changes as Ezatolahi, Taremi and Hosseini come into the line-up, taking the places of Shojaei, Jahanbakhsh and Rouzbeh Cheshmi, the latter of whom is injured.

Spain subs: Pepe Reina, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marco Asensio, Nacho Monreal, Thiago Alcantara, Nacho, Saul Niguez, Koke, Iago Aspas, Rodrigo Moreno, Alvaro Odriozola.

Spain XI: David De Gea; Dani Carvajal, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta; Lucas Vazquez, Isco, David Silva; Diego Costa.

Iran subs: Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri, Amir Abedzadeh, Ashkan Dejagah, Saman Ghoddos, Pejman Montazeri, Reza Ghoochannejhad, Milad Mohammadi, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh, Masoud Shojaei, Mehdi Torabi.

Iran XI: Alireza Beiranvand; Ramin Rezaeian, Morteza Pouraliganji, Majid Hosseini, Ehsan Haji Safi; Omid Ebrahimi; Mehdi Taremi, Saied Ezatolahi, Vahid Amiri, Karim Ansarifard; Sardar Azmoun.

Iran, meanwhile, secured a memorable victory against Morocco, albeit in fortunate circumstances, but now face a monumental task. The odds are stacked against them this evening but the World Cup has already thrown up many surprising results, so there's always the chance of something remarkable taking place.

After conceding at the last gasp to a Cristiano Ronalo free-kick against Portugal, Spain will be looking to pick up a victory against Iran. Diego Costa excelled in that match, scoring twice, and will look to take that form into the remainder of the tournament - and we're still yet to see the likes of Marco Asensio.

40 mins until KO: Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of the Group B match between Iran and Spain at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.


Squads & Team News

Nacho is dropped after having an eventful game at right-back against Portugal, conceding a penalty and scoring a stunning goal in the entertaining 3-3 draw. Dani Carvajal replaces him as he returns to fitness following his injury in the Champions League final.

Additionally, Lucas Vazquez comes in for Koke in an attacking change by Fernando Hierro, as Spain look to top the group on goal difference. 

Confirmed Iran XI:  Beiranvand; Haji Safi, Pouraliganji, Hosseini, Rezaeian; Ebrahimi; Ansarifard, Amiri, Ezatolahi, Taremi; Azmoun

Iran subs: Torabi, Mohammadi, Shojaei, Mazaheri, Khanzadeh, Ghoddos, Montazeri, Ghoochannejhad, Jahanbakhash, Dejagah, Abedzadeh

Confirmed Spain XI:  De Gea; Alba, Ramos, Pique, Carvajal; Busquets, Iniesta, Isco; Vazquez, Silva; Costa

Spain subs: Nacho, Saul, Koke, Rodrigo, Thiago, Odriozola, Kepa, Azpilicueta, Monreal, Aspas, Asensio, Reina


TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch


In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

US TV channel Online stream
FOX / Telemundo fubo TV (7-day free trial)

In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on TV on ITV or streamed live online using the ITV Player.

UK TV channel Online stream
ITV ITV Player
Best Spain move of the match as Iniesta and Isco combine superbly on the edge of the box, with the former winning a corner. It's taken short and eventually put into the middle, where David Silva acrobatically flicks an effort over the bar.
Another break in play as Iran captain Safi requires treatment on the edge of the Spain area and it doesn't look good. We could see an early change.
Iran skipper Safi is back on the field, by the way, taking his place in the middle of the defensive blockade.
Into three minutes of added time at the end of the first half.
Spain were made to work for it but Diego Costa's rather fortunate goal has given La Roja their first victory of the 2018 World Cup. Iran worked hard defensively and thought they had their moment in the second half but VAR ruled it out for offside, although there's no complaints as it was the correct decision.

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