On Monday, England will kick off their campaign at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Gareth Southgate will be hoping to build on the team's semi-final appearance in the 2018 World Cup and their final appearance in the 2020 European Championships by finally getting over the line.
The England fans' thoughts are already on the knockout stages where they could face the likes of Germany and Portugal, but they first have to get through what could be a tricky group stage. The United States and Wales are waiting in the wings, but Southgate's first challenge will come against Iran.
But what could Iran offer? They are a mostly unknown quantity for England but they could prove an issue, so to give you more of an idea about them, let's talk a little more about the side.
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The Manager
Iran's manager is probably the most recognisable face in the squad as they are helmed by former Manchester United assistant coach and Portugal manager Carlos Quieroz.
Queiroz returned to the Iranian dugout after a spell with the Egyptian national team which saw them reach the final of the African Cup of Nations. Many Egyptian fans hold him in high esteem for the way he turned the country's fortunes around and allowed them to play in a way that wasn't completely reliant on Mohammed Salah, but they were unfortunately unable to qualify for the World Cup.
Queiroz's style has been described colloquially as 'suffer-ball'. He is not here to play football, he is here to win and crush his opponent's spirits while he does it.
Former Iran and Charlton striker Reza Reza Ghoochannejhad best explained Quieroz's tactics during his first spell, where he managed the team at the 2014 World Cup. He told IranWire: “The Iranian national team is not Brazil or Argentina, with many star players.
“We are a team and we must play as a tight team. We must have strong tactics to succeed on the field. When necessary, we all play in defence and when it is time to attack we all play as a team.”
Iran will likely deploy a low block and look to hit England on the counter. They will also look for any opportunity to disrupt the fluidity of the game; committing cynical fouls, kicking the ball out of play and taking their time over every dead ball (some would refer to it as 'anti-football' however it is a reliable tactic and allows weaker teams to level the playing field).
Given how England have struggled to break down teams who close up against them this could cause a problem for Southgate's side.
The Players
Despite being considered the minnows of the group by many, Iran have some incredibly talented players at their disposal. This is especially true in the forward areas.
Medhi Taremi has been in excellent form for Porto this season. He has scored six goals and registered five assists in 13 games in the Portuguese league, but it's in the Champions League where he has really shined, scoring five in five.
Sardar Azmoun, who was once dubbed the 'Iranian Messi' despite his 6ft 1ins frame will partner him up top while Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who some Premier League fans may remember from his time at Brighton, supports them on the wing and also captains the side.
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Their Road to the tournament
Iran performed incredibly well in their World Cup qualifying group. They finished first with eight wins, one draw, and only one loss ahead of the likes of South Korea and had the most points of any team in the Asian Confederation qualifying.
However, within the country, there have been issues surrounding their participation in the tournament. Reuters revealed that a group of current and former Iranian sports people wrote to FIFA to ask for their nation to be removed from the tournament as a message to the state over their treatment of citizens, especially women.
And Queiroz has stated that if his players want to protest themselves, they are welcome to do so, telling Reuters: “The players are free to protest as they would if they were from any other country as long as it conforms with the World Cup regulations and is in the spirit of the game.
Everybody has the right to express themselves. You guys are used to bending your knees in the games and some people agree, some people don’t agree with that, and in Iran, it’s exactly the same.”
Whether these protests will be visible during the tournament is yet to be seen, but they could potentially cast a long, but important, shadow over Iran's efforts in this competition.
Prediction
Overall England should have the necessary quality needed to overcome Iran, but it will be a cagey affair. A 1-0 win seems like the most likely result in favour of Southgate's side; potentially from a Harry Kane penalty.
Though it will not be a shock if Iran holds their nerve and manage to grind out a draw against an England side who have struggled in these sorts of situations in the past.
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