Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1539795/iran-need-flood-goals-make-last-16 Football
Iran need flood of goals to make last 16
Bosnia are on their way home but want to leave on a high note and may dash the Iranians dreams
Iran's Ashkan Dejagah is confident they can end thri goal drought against Bosnia. Photo: EPA
Ashkan Dejagah is confident Iran can end their goal drought by beating Bosnia on Wedensday to reach the World Cup last 16.
Iran are third in group F with one point after a goalless draw with Nigeria and the heartbreak of their 1-0 defeat to Argentina when Lionel Messi scored in added time.
In Salvador, the Iranians must beat Bosnia, who are already out, while hoping Nigeria fail to pick up a point against Argentina in Porto Alegre, which also kicks off at midnight (Hong Kong time).
Salvador's Arena Fonte Nova has seen 17 goals in three games after the Netherlands 5-1 romp over Spain, Germany's 4-0 hammering of Portugal and France's 5-2 rout of the Swiss.
Iran can now do with scoring a few of their own at the same venue.
Bosnia's Toni Sunjic (left) and Vedad Ibisevic field medai questions ahead of their match against Iran at Pituacu stadium in Salvador. Photo: Reuters
If they win and Nigeria lose, both sides will finish with four points, leaving goal difference to decide who goes through to the last 16 clash in Brasilia next Monday against the group E winners.
Fulham's Dejagah (pictured) said his side must bounce back from the disappointment of their Argentinian defeat with a win.
"We still have a chance to go through and who would have thought our World Cup would last longer than England and Spain," he said.
"We had such a bad feeling after the match against Argentina because of the way it ended.
"We tried to make it tough for them and with a little bit of luck we would have won this game or even got a draw.
"I hope we have showed the world that Iran can play football."
Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko (left) wants to go home on a high, so they will be playing for pride against Iran. Photo: AFP
The Bosnians are on their way home after losing their opener 2-1 to Argentina and then 1-0 to Nigeria on Saturday, but Safet Susic's side want to bow out with heads high.
The defeat ended Bosnia's first World Cup campaign in the group stages, but striker Edin Dzeko wants to sign off in style.
Dzeko was left fuming after the defeat to Nigeria when he was denied an early goal by the linesman's flag, but replays showed the player was clearly onside.
The Bosnians claimed New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary then missed a foul on Emir Spahic in the build-up to Peter Odemwingie's 29th-minute winner.
"We should have won the game, but the referee was shameful," said Manchester City's Dzeko.
"We know that we are not going into the next round, but we will try to do our best in the next game," pledged Dzeko.