Iran will draw inspiration from Greece when they take on Bosnia-Herzegovina in their final FIFA World Cup 2014 Group F encounter on Wednesday.
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Greece managed to qualify for the last 16 against all odds with a last-gasp win over Ivory Coast on Tuesday, and Iran will need a similar minor miracle to book their own place in the knockout stages.
Iran currently sit third in the Group F table on one point from two matches, with Argentina, who have already qualified, sitting pretty at the top on six points, followed by Nigeria, who have four.
To qualify, Iran need to post a big win over already-eliminated Bosnia-Herzegovina in Salvador, while hoping Nigeria fall to Argentina in their match in Porto Alegre.
"It is our World Cup final," Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said about the impending challenge against Bosnia-Herzegovina. "It's as simple as that. The day we left Tehran everybody knew we weren't coming here to win the trophy, nobody expects that of us, no one demands that from Iran.
"But we are allowed to dream of qualifying [for the knockout rounds]. Our first goal was to put Iran on the map of this World Cup in Brazil. We've achieved that and we've won respect. Now our dream is to qualify for the second round. Let us dream of that goal, it's free to dream."
Iran have been impressive in their defence, conceding just one goal al tournament, and that too a magical strike from Lionel Messi. The Asian side were on their way to a famous draw against Argentina in their previous game before Messi broke Iran hearts with a strike right at the death.
However, Iran, who will again use their defensive strengths to good use on Wednesday, won a lot of plaudits for that performance against Argentina, and Bosnia-Herzegovina will know they will have to be at their attacking best to penetrate the Iran wall.
For Bosnia-Herzegovina, the team many tipped to qualify along with Argentina, it will be about regaining some lost pride following defeats to the South Americans and Nigeria. While luck has deserted hem a little bit in this tournament, coach Safet Susic will be keen to see his team end their campaign on a high.
"We all expected the match tomorrow to be our key game to decide a place in the round of 16 but it has not panned out as we had expected," Susic said on Tuesday. "Had we had more luck, had we played better and the referees taken more logical decisions we could have been competing for a place in the knockout round.
"We are very disappointed and I apologize but it was our World Cup debut. We will be looking for some redemption."
Expected lineups: Bosnia-Herzegovina: Begovic; Mujdza, Sunjic, Spahic, Kolasinac; Hajrovic, Besic, Pjanic, Lulic; Ibisevic, Dzeko.
Iran: Haghighi; Hosseini, Sadeghi, Montazeri, Pooladi; Timotian, Nekounam; Dejagah, Shojaei, Haji Safi; Ghoochannejad.
Prediction: 1-1
