Real Madrid star Marco Asensio must feature and other key Iran v Spain tactical talking points

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  • What looked like a straightforward one-two finish for Spain and Portugal in Group B was ripped wide open last Friday as the two European powerhouses shared the spoils while Iran rocked Morocco with a 95th-minute winner.

    Expect Iran to pack bodies behind the ball with the knockouts now a genuine possibility but Spain, despite their Cristiano Ronaldo-shaped frustrations, looked as slick as ever in that 3-3 thriller with Diego Costa’s added snarl.

    Below are some of the tactical talking points could well come to the fore in Wednesday’s clash in Kazan. Check out the key players analysis here.

    ASENSIO’S AN ACE IN THE PACK

    Marco Asensio

    Fernando Hierro decided against unleashing Real Madrid’s prized finisher, Marco Asensio, off the bench with the game on the line on Friday.

    Thiago replaced a tiring Andres Iniesta and the ever-industrious Lucas Vasquez arrived on the scene to shore up the right-hand side to see the win out … until Ronaldo happened.

    However, it’s easy to imagine a scenario where Hierro will need a locksmith with a penchant for the spectacular off the bench should Iran put on a defensive masterclass.

    The 22-year-old is just about the fastest option available to the Spain boss outside his sub strikers and his left foot has conjured up special goals for Real, be it through tap-ins or long-range howitzers, on a regular basis.

    Let’s not forget either that Atletico Madrid’s Spanish army knife Saul Niguez is also parked on that bench – while he’s not got the finest of senior goal records, just a year ago he was taking the golden boot back home from the Under-21 European Championship.

    Both players were key cogs to that side that reached the final. Time for the big leagues.

    IRAN SHOULD PLAY A TUN

    Morocco v Iran: Group B - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

    Iran’s defensive strength was well-known to any observer of the AFC qualifiers long before the gates were shut on Morocco in St Petersburg.

    Spain, of course, are an uptick in quality to any side they’ll have faced under Carlos Queiroz but there is a blueprint to follow – Tunisia’s.

    The North Africans were all at sea against England on Monday, especially in the first half, but found a way to trouble Spain – albeit in a friendly – earlier this month where they lost by just one goal in Krasnodar.

    Tunisia packed the midfield in a 4-5-1 formation, soaked up the pressure and burst away on the counter attack, leading to a surfeit of chances before the break.

    Team Melli, as it so happens, have been moulded into a swift side on the counter under Queiroz with Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh the twooutlets with pace to burn.

    While it is rather optimistic to expect that duo to pierce Spain’s covering defenders, if they can draw a few fouls or corners, players such as centre-back Morteza Pouraliganji are dangerous from set-pieces. And never count out an own goal …

    GIVE INIESTA A SIESTA

    Iniesta Spain

    Hierro is not expected to make many, if any changes to the line-up that started against Portugal though there may have been one player that woke up on Saturday morning feeling the strain more than most.

    Andres Iniesta started 46 games for club and country last season – a 16-game increase on 2016/17 – with Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde keen to give the Nou Camp as many last glimpses as possible after it became clear he was to leave for the Far East.

    Spain certainly do not have the luxury of playing too cute with their starting XI after their opening draw but they have a player in Saul who can give La Roja some width, or the metronomic Thiago in reserve.

    Given that Morocco should be the sterner challenge, and there’ll surely be knockout games to come, preserving Iniesta should be a consideration.

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