The long-awaited FIFA World Cup 2018 is under way in Russia, and, in a shock development nobody would have predicted, Iran have emerged as dark horses to win the Jules Rimet Trophy.
Pitched headlong into the Group of Death along with Spain, Portugal and Morocco, the previously-unfancied Iranians took the game to their Moroccan opponents yesterday, coming away with an excellent 1-0 victory with a well-executed 'diving-header' own goal in the 95th minute.
It was no less than they deserved, having had 32% of the possession, and no less than 9 shots in the game - all in the first half - none of which went in.
Iran now sit proudly atop Group B, with only the Spaniards and Portuguese standing in their way to the second stage of the competition.
Iran coach, the former Manchester United assistant to Alex Ferguson, Carlos Queiroz, warned:
"We're not just here to make the numbers up, you know!"
Asked about their upcoming games against Spain and Portugal, he was no less blunt, saying:
"We're shitting bricks!"
