will Iran advance to second round of world cup?
368998
They're not in the most difficult of groups so they stand a better chance of causing an upset than many of the other outside teams, but I'm pretty sure it'll be Portugal (easily) and then Mexico who get through.
346442
YOU ASKING ABOUT FIFA WORLD CUP.\nINDIA IS PROGRESSING WELL'\nBUT..\nI DONT THINK INDIA COULD COMPETE WITH KOREA AND IRAN.
1117387
I strongly doubt it. As much as I really wanted Iran to beat the crap out of Mexico (for the record, I am not racist but in Central America, we don't like Mexicans' arrogance when it comes to football), the team just isn't as compact enough for a World Cup. After last night's defeat 1-3 against Mexico, their coach complained he didn't have enough time to train with those players playing outside of Iran. Besides, they seemed as though they had enough air and energy to overrun the Mexicans, yet they fell into stagnation on the second half.\n\nThey might beat Angola, but I doubt they will go pass the Portuguese. However, we will have to wait and see. It is still too early and anything can happen. \n\nPS: TO WHOMEVER IT MAY APPLY: do not mix football with politics; one thing is the country's president and another thing is their national football team. Get a grip.
19886
I, myself being an Iranian, I would say I hope the best for it. But the problems it is having on the international front are causing some problems. But on the other hand, IRAN will be kicking butt in the world cup in Germany!
350884
Kaka thinks that Iran stands no chance in the global footballing arena. Although he respects Iran, he finds that their team is too shallow in defence, too disorganised for midfield and too weak for striking.
459625
The Iran national football team is the national team of Iran and is controlled by the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation and is one of the strongest teams in Asia. Iran play their home games in the massive Azadi (Freedom) Stadium which was built in the mid 1970s with a capacity of over 100,000. Iran is also known as Team Melli.\n\nIran won the Asian Cup three times in a row (1968, 1972, 1976) and have finished third four times. In 1978, Iran made its first appearance in the World Cup and lost two of their three group stage games against the Netherlands and Peru. However, they managed to create a shocker by drawing against the famous Scotland side 1-1 on a late Iraj Danaeifard goal.\n\nAfter the 1979 Revolution, football was somewhat neglected and cast aside during the mid 1980s due to internal unrest and the Iran-Iraq War although rumors saying that Iran didn't play football during that time are untrue. Football managed to make its revival in the early 1990s with new talent like Ali Daei, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Khodadad Azizi and Karim Bagheri. In November 1997, Iran qualified for the 1998 World Cup after beating Australia in a controversial playoff series. Both games finished undecided, but Iran qualified due to the away goals rule. Iran held Australia to a 1-1 draw at home, and a 2-2 draw in Melbourne. Because Iran scored more away goals than Australia they qualified for the 1998 World Cup. Iran recorded their first win in the World Cup final tournament in 1998, 2-1 against the USA.\n\nThis Iran vs USA World Cup match was preheated with much excitement on both sides because of the countries political stance on each other after the Revolution in Iran. However, in an act of defiance against all forms of hatred or politics in sports both sides took ceremonial pictures embracing each other and gave each other gifts and flowers before kickoff.\n\nThe number of "footy fanatics" in Iran has increased exponentially in the last two decades. Football can be seen everywhere in Iran. Kids playing football in narrow streets is a very common sight, particularly south and east of Tehran. This style of football named "gol-koocheak" ("small-net") is normally played with the signature purple or red and white balls sold almost in every Iranian "dokoon" or convenience store. Street football is usually played with "dolayeh" ("two-layered") or "selayeh" (triple-layered) plastic balls, because the single rubber ball alone is hard to control. One plastic ball is cut and the other is forced into its hard plastic shell to make a "dolayeh" plastic ball. Because street football is played in small, closed areas (and often with very small nets) children who play football in Iran's streets and similarly Iranian footballers are technically gifted.\n\nOn June 8, 2005, Iran together with Japan became the first country to qualify for the 2006 World Cup making it Iran's 3rd appearance on the world stage of football. The qualification round both in 2001 and 2004-05 resulted in mass celebrations, hysteria and rioting causing internal chaos and unrest between youth and government officials.\n\nIran are, as of 2006, ranked within the Top 20 of the FIFA World Rankings with its current ranking at #19.
1158381
It will be very difficult for Iran, and reasonably possible for Sweden.\n\nIran is going to have to at least tie Portugal.  I think this will be difficult, and then they need to make sure that they get enough of a positive goal difference on Angola.  I think it will be very hard for Iran to do both of these.\n\nSweden has much better odds (IMO)
515519
I am deciding to answer this question first with a middle finger to a bastard here ""lord_dups76 "" who has the guts to mix sports and politics. What sports has to do with Nuclear technology????!!! Silly Ugly face. We are paying the price for dummy bastards like this one.\n\nBut we go back to Iran qualifying from the group stage. Yes I believe Iran and Portugal will qualify from the group based on these reasons:\n1- Iran has always won against Central and North American .. The worst they have done has been a 1-1 against Canada  while they have won many other games against USA, Canada, Panama, Costa Rica and Jamaica. \n2- Iran has always played good against Africans. watching Iran humiliate Angola in this world cup would be a joy.\n3- Iran has more stars who play in Germany and Italy than Mexico. Mexico is not as strong as Iran . They are overrated and luck.\n4- Playing in Germany is like playing at home for Iranians. Even in FIFA world cup's last publications has been mentioned that Iranians will play in their other Aryan home, Germany. Mahdavi Kia is the Captain of Hamburg- Runner Up Bundes Liga from next season and he is the most popular footballer of the region.  Hashemian is loved in Hanover. Karimi is the magician of Bayern and many others. Daei doesn't need to be even introduced because as the top goal Scorer of the world , he will be there to direct the team with his experience.\n\nChaparitos should watch Iran scoring from the beginning of the match.\n\nSo my prediction:\nIran 2 Mexico 1\nIran 0 Portugal 1\nIran 4 Angola 0 \nIran will qualify with six points..
1114217
I agree with you, but i think they have proven something by just being in the world cup, because it is a long way to qualify for the World Cup. I also agree with Iran, and Trinidad, because Iran is a though team, and trinidad gave a pretty good defence in the last two games. But if you remeber Croatia made it to the quarter finals in their last World Cup, or 1998 i don't really remember.
994434
I'm iranian but we should be realistic.\nthere 4 i think this will be iranian result:\niran 1 mexico 3 \niran 0 portugal 2\niran 1 angola 1
392397
One of these team can win the World Cup , Italy , Argentina , Iran
1125200
Angola will probably finish 3rd because they had good showing against Mexico.  Iran will have beat Angola to finish 3rd and I don't think that will happen.
1169335
Portugal will beat Iran, but Iran will beat Angola
1098910
Iran has a weak defense and Portugal will take advantage of it.  Portugal will win 2-0.
1012628
IRAN..... Iran will qualify from their groups respectively. I can't wait to see overrated chaparitos humiliated lol. Mexico really sucks. After 12 times of qualifying the furthest they have gone is quarterfinals. Iranian coach said the best thing? The problem of Mexico is simply being in the same group with Iran and Portugal. lol. Wait and see.
375390
Iran has a much stronger and more experienced team than in France 1998, with more European-based players who are currently playing at a high level.  But Iran has a difficult group.  Iran must beat Angola, and tie either Mexico or Portugal in order to have a chance to advance.  I think that Iran can do it.  Their coach prepares them well on set plays.  Having watched their qualifying matches, I saw that they score many goals on set plays.  If they can continue to do this in the World Cup, they can get goals against both Mexico and Portugal, which are not strong defensive teams.  Then they can tie one of those games.  If Iran does advance, I think that they will have a difficult time moving past the Round of 16.  But every World Cup has surprises.
1166891
if they're not gonna take the world cup ... second position guaranteed