TEAM NEWS
Argentina are expected to revert to a 4-3-3 formation, with striker Gonzalo Higuain in line to be recalled to the starting line-up.
Fernando Gago is also likely to start, with Maxi Rodriguez and Hugo Campagnaro set to drop to the substitutes' bench.
Javier Mascherano will win his 100th cap, becoming the fourth Argentine to reach the landmark.
Iran could name the same team which drew with Nigeria, with Charlton's Reza Ghoochannejhad their lone striker.
MATCH PREVIEW
Argentina began the World Cup as second favourites and will clinch qualification for the last 16 with victory against Iran.
However, they struggled to break down Bosnia-Hercegovina in their opening game, and will once again face opponents prepared to sit deep and stifle them.
The best bits of the 2014 World Cup so far
Alejandro Sabella's side were indebted to a brilliant solo goal from Lionel Messi against the Bosnians, ending his run of 623 minutes of World Cup football since last scoring.
Another piece of Messi magic could be needed to break down the well-drilled Iranians.
The defensive tactics employed by coach Carlos Queiroz helped Iran grind out a 0-0 draw with Nigeria, giving them their first clean sheet at a World Cup match.
That result means the Iranians cannot be eliminated even if they lose on Saturday. Regardless of the outcome in Belo Horizonte, a win in their final match, against Bosnia-Hercegovina, would give them a realistic chance of qualification.
While Queiroz is unlikely to deviate from his tactical plan, Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella admits his gamble to play 3-5-2 against the Bosnians backfired.
In the second half, Sabella reverted to the 4-3-3 system he used for the majority of qualifying matches, and they looked far more threatening.
It remains to be seen whether Sabella will be bold enough to play three strikers against elite opposition in Brazil.
But doing so against a defensive Iranian side should not pose too many risks - even if Saturday's game falls on the 16th anniversary of Iran's only previous World Cup win.
They famously beat the USA on 21 June 1998, but victory against two-time champions Argentina would surpass that and rank as one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
The only previous meeting was a 1-1 draw in 1977. That match was held at the Bernabeu as part of a friendly tournament to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of Real Madrid.
Argentina
Argentina have won won 10 of their last 13 World Cup group games (D2, L1), scoring 26 goals and conceding just five times. Their only defeat in that sequence was against England in 2002.Lionel Messi has scored 21 goals in his last 21 appearances for Argentina.They have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three World Cup matches, conceding six goals in total.
Iran
Saturday will be 16 years to the day since Iran earned their only World Cup victory by beating the USA 2-1 in Lyon. That is their only win in 10 matches at the tournament (D3, L6).They recorded their first World Cup clean sheet against Nigeria.Their only previous World Cup game against a South American side was a 4-1 defeat against Peru in 1978.Five of the last nine goals Iran have conceded at World Cups have been headers.The last two goals Iran have scored at World Cups have come from corners (both in 2006).
Argentina are expected to revert to a 4-3-3 formation, with striker Gonzalo Higuain in line to be recalled to the starting line-up.
Fernando Gago is also likely to start, with Maxi Rodriguez and Hugo Campagnaro set to drop to the substitutes' bench.
Javier Mascherano will win his 100th cap, becoming the fourth Argentine to reach the landmark.
Iran could name the same team which drew with Nigeria, with Charlton's Reza Ghoochannejhad their lone striker.
MATCH PREVIEW
Argentina began the World Cup as second favourites and will clinch qualification for the last 16 with victory against Iran.
However, they struggled to break down Bosnia-Hercegovina in their opening game, and will once again face opponents prepared to sit deep and stifle them.
The best bits of the 2014 World Cup so far
Alejandro Sabella's side were indebted to a brilliant solo goal from Lionel Messi against the Bosnians, ending his run of 623 minutes of World Cup football since last scoring.
Another piece of Messi magic could be needed to break down the well-drilled Iranians.
The defensive tactics employed by coach Carlos Queiroz helped Iran grind out a 0-0 draw with Nigeria, giving them their first clean sheet at a World Cup match.
That result means the Iranians cannot be eliminated even if they lose on Saturday. Regardless of the outcome in Belo Horizonte, a win in their final match, against Bosnia-Hercegovina, would give them a realistic chance of qualification.
While Queiroz is unlikely to deviate from his tactical plan, Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella admits his gamble to play 3-5-2 against the Bosnians backfired.
In the second half, Sabella reverted to the 4-3-3 system he used for the majority of qualifying matches, and they looked far more threatening.
It remains to be seen whether Sabella will be bold enough to play three strikers against elite opposition in Brazil.
But doing so against a defensive Iranian side should not pose too many risks - even if Saturday's game falls on the 16th anniversary of Iran's only previous World Cup win.
They famously beat the USA on 21 June 1998, but victory against two-time champions Argentina would surpass that and rank as one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
The only previous meeting was a 1-1 draw in 1977. That match was held at the Bernabeu as part of a friendly tournament to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of Real Madrid.
Argentina
Argentina have won won 10 of their last 13 World Cup group games (D2, L1), scoring 26 goals and conceding just five times. Their only defeat in that sequence was against England in 2002.Lionel Messi has scored 21 goals in his last 21 appearances for Argentina.They have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three World Cup matches, conceding six goals in total.
Iran
Saturday will be 16 years to the day since Iran earned their only World Cup victory by beating the USA 2-1 in Lyon. That is their only win in 10 matches at the tournament (D3, L6).They recorded their first World Cup clean sheet against Nigeria.Their only previous World Cup game against a South American side was a 4-1 defeat against Peru in 1978.Five of the last nine goals Iran have conceded at World Cups have been headers.The last two goals Iran have scored at World Cups have come from corners (both in 2006).
posted from Bloggeroid
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