World Cup Team Guide: Iran

Manager: Carlos Queiroz

Key player: Sardar Azmoun - The 23-year-old is the shinging light in Carlos Queiroz's side, sitting comfortably as the top scorer in the squad, despite his relatively tender years. Known as the 'Iranian Messi' and compared in some quarters to Iranian legend Ali Daei, Azmoun has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in recent times, with the World Cup giving him the perfect opportunity to showcase his talents.

Qualifying:

'Team Melli' claimed top spot in Group A in Asian qualifying, sitting a comfortable seven points clear of south Korea in second. Iran ended qualifying unbeaten, with a records of six wins and four draws from their 10 games, yielding 22 points, more than any other Asian side. 

Last time out:

2014 World Cup:

The tournament proved to be an utterly forgettable one for Iran as they claimed just a solitary point from their three games. After opening their campaign with a goalless draw with Nigeria, Iran came minutes from securing a famous draw with Argentina, only for Lionel Messi to bail his side out in added-on time. They then ended their tournament with a 3-1 defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Salvador as they were sent packing early.

History:

Iran have qualified for back-to-back World Cups for the first time in their history. This year's installment will be their fifth appearance at the tournament, though they are yet to make it beyond the Group Stage.

Who will they face?

Morocco (4pm, June 15, St Petersburg), Spain (7pm, June 20, Kazan), Portugal (7pm, June 25, Saransk).

Final squad:

Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Rashid Mazaheri (Zob Ahan), Amir Abedzadeh (Maritimo).

Defenders: Pejman Montazeri (Esteghlal), Seyed Majid Hosseini (Esteghlal), Roozbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Milad Mohammadi (Akhmat Grozny), Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (Padideh),  Morteza Pouraliganji (Alsaad), Ramin Rezaeian (Ostende), Ehsan Hajsafi (Olympiacos).

Midfielders: Saeid Ezatolahi (Amkar Perm),  Masoud Shojaei (AEK Athens), Mahdi Torabi (Saipa), Omid Ebrahimi (Esteghlal), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis), Saman Ghoddos (Ostersunds), Ashkan Dejagah (Notthingham Forest).

Forwards: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (AZ Alkmaar), Karim Ansarifard (Olympiacos), Mahdi Taremi (Al Gharafa), Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Heerenveen).