Iran

Parsing Iran's footballing circumstances is anything but a straightforward endeavor - the geopolitical fallout of the US and Israeli war waged on Iranian soil since February has aggravated internal rifts (partly why Sardar Azmoun is absent from the squad list) and created logistical nightmares, completely throwing Team Melli's World Cup preparations into chaos. That said, they have still managed to play three friendlies in Antalya before departing for their training base in Mexico, and Amir Ghalenoei has a track record of being able to draw moments of effervescent attacking football from an experienced group of players primarily known on the international stage for pragmatic, low-block defensive tactics.

Typically, Iran build up out of a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 possession shape with short diagonal passing, or go more direct with vertical passing over the top. The squad does not exactly have a surplus of individual ball progressors in their prime - Alireza Jahanbakhsh would have been the go-to man previously but will likely come off the bench here. Azmoun hadn't been in the best club form, but he was still a key partner for Mehdi Taremi up front, and his absence creates a significant burden on the remaining players, in particular the attacking midfield trio of Saman Ghoddos, Mohammad Mohebi and Mehdi Ghayedi, to provide Taremi with sufficient support if Iran are to find their goal-scoring form.