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Monday, June 18, 2018

2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia June 14-July 15,2018 - Match 20 Group B Iran Vs Spain @Kazan Arena @23.30 IST Wednesday June 20,2018


The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia June 14- July 15,2018 will be the 21st edition

FIFA World Cup  Winners from 1930 to 2014

Year Host Country Winner Score
2014 Brazil Germany Germany beat Argentina 1-0
2010 South Africa Spain Spain 1-0 Netherlands
2006 Germany Italy Italy 1-1 (5-3) France
2002 Japan / S. Korea Brazil Brazil 2-0 Germany
1998 France France France 3-0 Brazil
1994 US Brazil Brazil 3-2 Italy
1990 Italy Germany Germany 1-0 Argentina
1986 Mexico Argentina Argentina 3-2 Germany
1982 Spain Italy Italy 3-1 Germany
1978 Argentina Argentina Argentina 3-1 Holland
1974 Germany Germany Germany 2-1 Holland
1970 Mexico Brazil Brazil 4-1 Italy
1966 England England England 4-2 Germany
1962 Chile Brazil Brazil 3-1 Czechoslovakia
1958 Sweden Brazil Brazil 5-2 Sweden
1954 Switzerland Germany Germany 3-2 Hungary
1950 Brazil Uruguay Uruguay 2-1 Brazil
1946 not held
1942 not held
1938 France Italy Italy 4-2 Hungary
1934 Italy Italy Italy 2-1 Czechoslovakia
1930 Uruguay Uruguay Uruguay 4-2 Argentina


This will be the first World Cup held in Europe since the 2006 FIFA WC held in Germany,the first ever to be held in Eastern Europe and the 11th time that it has been held in Europe.

2018 FIFA World Cup tournament will involve 32 national teams, which include 31 teams determined through Qualifying Competitions  and the automatically qualified Host Team - Russia

Of the 32 teams, 20 will be making back-to-back appearances following the last tournament in 2014, including defending champions  Germany

Iceland and Panama will both be making their first appearances at the 2018 FIFA WC in Russia.

A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities

2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia June 14-July 15,2018 - Match Results

Match 01 Group A  Hosts Russia beat Saudi Arabia 5-0 
Match 02 Group A Urugua beat Egypt 1-0 
Match 03 Group B Iran beat Morocco 1-0
Match 04 Group B Portugal Vs Spain - Match ended in a 3-3 draw
Match 05 Group C France beat Australia 2-1
Match 06 Group D Argentina Vs Iceland - Match ended in a 1-1 draw
Match 07 Group C Denmark beat Peru 1-0
Match 08 Group D Croatia beat Nigeria 2-0
Match 09 Group E Serbia beat Cost Rica 1-0
Match 10 Group F  Mexico beat Germany 1-0
Match 11 Group E Switzerland drew with Brazil 1-1
Match 12 Group F Sweden beat South Korea  1-0
Match 13 Group G Belgium beat Panama 3-0
Match 14 Group G England beat Tunisia 2-1
Match 16 Group H Senegal beat Poland 2-1
Match 17 Group A Russia beat Egypy 3-1
Match 18 Group B Portugal beat Morocco 1-0 
Match 19 Group A Uruguay beat  Saudi Arabia 1-0
Match 20 Group B  Spain  beat Iran 1-0


Match 20 Group B  Spain  beat Iran 1-0
 
A fortuitous second half goal by Diego Costa broke a Persian stonewall and lifted Spain to a 1-0 win over a courageous Iran in a nerve-jangling World Cup clash on Wednesday.

Costa claimed his third goal of the tournament in the 54th minute at Kazan Arena but the striker hardly knew about it, the ball deflecting off his knee from an attempted clearance by hapless Iran defender Ramin Rezaeian.

The result put Spain joint top of Group B with Iberian rivals Portugal on four points ahead of their last match against the already eliminated Morocco.

Iran remain on three points and can reach the knockout rounds for the first time with victory over Portugal.

After a match played out to a deafening blare from vuvuzelas blown by a huge army of Iranian fans, Spain will feel relieved to have emerged with the points and content that they played the better football against Carlos Queiroz's stingy side.

“We were not lying yesterday when we said in the press conference Iran is a tough team,” said Spain coach Fernando Hierro, who replaced the sacked Julen Lopetegui only two days before their opening match against Portugal.

“It is very hard to score against them... We are very happy with three points.”

Boasting Asia's meanest defence, Queiroz's well-drilled Iran were typically grudging, but they will again rue the lack of a clinical touch after a number of chances went begging.

They have yet to score a goal off their own boot this tournament and fans will have torn their hair out after Mehdi Taremi headed over the bar from six yards out in the 82nd minute.

Queiroz was nonetheless proud of his players, and said they would head into the Portugal decider with confidence.

“We go for it, with great belief and great determination to try to win the game,” the master tactician told

“When we arrived, no-one gave us a chance, but we still fight for our dreams.”

Hierro brought winger Lucas Vazquez into his starting side in place of midfielder Koke, seeking more dynamism to break down Iran's wall.

But the Persians kept their shape superbly, restricting Spain to a handful of chances from David Silva in the first half.

It was not until the 25th minute that Spain had a shot on target, with Silva sending a free kick straight into the arms of keeper Ali Beiranvand.

Spain pushed hard after the break, with Sergio Busquets unleashing a searing long-range strike that forced Beiranvand into a brilliant double save.

From an unedifying grind, the game suddenly roared into life, and minutes later, Karim Ansarifard had latched onto a poor clearance and fired just wide of the left post.

The Iranian rally faltered when Silva found Costa in the area, and Rezaeian was desperately unlucky that his challenge ended pinging off the striker's knee and into the net.

Queiroz's side pushed hard for the equaliser and thought they had it when the recalled Saeid Ezatolahi struck from close range in the 63rd minute, latching onto a ball headed down.

But he was ruled off-side by the VAR, prompting howls of derision from white-clad Iranian fans.
Another chance came and went some 20 minutes later, when Vahid Amiri brilliantly nutmegged Gerard Pique and sent in a cross from the left to find Taremi in the box.

Taremi's header sailed over harmlessly, however, leaving Spain to complete one of their tougher World Cup wins.

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