Morocco vs Iran - Eredivise heavyweights hoping to put on a show

Morocco’s meeting with Iran could prove key in the grand scheme of things in Group B. With Portugal up against a Spain side in disarray, victory for either side will see the duo take a huge step towards progression to the next round of the World Cup. 

Steadfast Morocco will be looking to impress having topped their qualifying group, conceding no goals in six matches to book a place at Russia 2018, but Iran, managed by former Real Madrid boss Carlos Queiroz, are not to be taken lightly. 

The duo have the personnel to hurt any side on their day, but it’s two Eredivisie heavyweights who’ll go head to head in their respective quests for glory. Hakim Ziyech is the star man in this Morocco side, while Alireza Jahanbakhsh is the current poster boy for Iranian football. 

The pair finished the Eredivisie campaign as the top two best-rated players in the top tier of Dutch football last term, with Ziyech (8.21) pipping Jahanbakhsh (8.20) to top spot in the WhoScored.com rating leaderboard. Ziyech was a creative force for Ajax as he chipped in with 142 key passes, more than any other player, and 15 assists. 

Jahanbakhsh, meanwhile, was the top scorer in the Eredivisie last term, with 21 goals, and was one of three players to register double figures for goals and assists, having laid on 12 assists for his AZ Alkmaar teammates. The 24-year-old may play a different role for country than he does his club, with Queiroz utilising a system that allows Sardar Azmoun to flourish as the lone forward, but Jahanbakhsh is very much a threat for Morocco on Friday. 

When handed the space to excel both players thrive in the final third and both Morocco and Iran will look to Ziyech and Jahanbakhsh, respectively, to put their opponent to the sword. From a personal perspective, too, the two players will hope to put on a show in Russia in order to secure a possible big money move to one of Europe’s bigger leagues this summer. 

However, the immediate port of call is the World Cup and the duo need to exceed expectations in order to prove their credentials to those watching and help their respective nation out of Group B and into the knockout stage. Fortunately for Morocco and Iran, their star men come into the World Cup on the back of hugely impressive domestic campaigns and that should boost morale here.