Iran Vs Nigeria at Arena da Baixada, Curitiba Monday June 16,2014

Managers

Carlos Quieroz(Iran)

Stephen Keshi(Nigeria)

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

The only previous meeting was a friendly in January 1998, when Ahmed Garcia's goal gave Nigeria a 1-0 victory in Hong Kong.

Iran

The Iranians have lost their opening game at their three previous World Cup appearances.
They have won only of nine previous World Cup games (D2, L6) and have never kept a clean sheet.
However, they kept more clean sheets in qualifying (10) than any other side.
They have committed an average of 22 fouls per World Cup game, the highest ratio of any team involved in Brazil (prior to the start of the current tournament).

Nigeria

The Super Eagles are winless in their last eight World Cup matches (L6, D2).
They managed just seven shots on target at the 2010 World Cup - only three teams had lower totals (Honduras, New Zealand and Algeria).
Over half (11 of 21) of the goals that Nigeria have conceded at World Cups have come from set plays.
Their only previous World Cup game against Asian opposition was their 2-2 draw with South Korea during the group stage of the 2010 tournament - a result which eliminated them.

Iran and Nigeria play out first goalless draw of 2014 FIFA World Cup

No-one will be particularly surprised that draw happened in Curitiba’s Arena da Baixada between these two nations on Monday night.

The first draw of the World Cup – and a goalless one at that – leaves Bosnia and Herzegovina favourites to qualify from Group F behind Argentina if they can avoid defeat to Nigeria in Cuiaba on Saturday.

The reigning African champions(Nigeria) knew that this was arguably their best chance of a first World Cup win in nine attempts going back to 1998 when Iran also celebrated their solitary victory over the USA, but Stephen Keshi’s side were desperately disappointing.

Squads

Iran