Spain are now unbeaten in 22 international games, having won 15 and drawn seven. Iran haven’t beaten European opposition in seven attempts at the World Cup. Portugal and Spain have four points, while Iran have three. Morocco have already been eliminated with no points.
That’s all from The Field for today. Hope you enjoyed the coverage and join us tomorrow for more World Cup action.
FT: We’ve witnessed three 1-0 wins today and this was no different, but Diego Costa’s goal meant that Spain made their dominance count. Iran had a few chances of their own at the end, but weren’t clinical enough. They face Portugal in their last match.
Full-time and Spain are narrow winners in Kazan.
They needed stroke of luck but they’ll be pleased with the victory. Carlos Queiroz’s men defending staunchly but couldn’t hold La Roja for 90 minutes.
90: Four minutes of time added on. Iran trail 1-0.
86’: Third and final sub for Iran. Spain lead 1-0.
Saman Ghoddos come in for Amiri. Costa comes off as well, and is replaced by Rodrigo.
82’: Iran come mighty close. 1-0 Spain.
As Amiri’s cross comes in from the left, Mehdi rises highest and bullies Pique before getting his head to the ball. He really should have hit the target there, as it sails over.
78’: Amiri gets booked, as Spain lead 1-0.
The stand-in captain fouls Carvajal but the referee books him, despite his protestations that this is his first foul.
74’: Iran with a second sub. Spain lead 1-0.
Alireza Jahanbaksh from AZ Alkmaar comes on for the captain Karim Ansarifad. Almost makes something happen immediately with a beautiful floated ball. Talented fella’, this Jahanbaksh.
69’: Mad scramble but Iran survive. 1-0 Spain
A clever corner results in a scoring chance but Iran have bodies on the line to prevent them from going in. Iniesta goes off to be replaced by Koke, as Mohammadi is on for Iran’s Haji Kafi.
62’: NO GOAL! Iran thought they had it in but VAR rules it out. 1-0 Spain.
What drama in Kazan. Team Melli put the ball into the net from a set-piece but a VAR check reveals a handball in the build-up to the goal. Iran need to do it all over again.
60’: Iran finally attack de Gea’s goal. 1-0 Spain.
Ball comes in from the right and Amiri attacks it but to no avail as it goes wide. The match should be much more open now.
54’: GOAALLL!! Spain lead 1-0.
Iniesta passes it to Costa, but Karim kicks it onto the Spaniard’s leg and it deflects beyond his own keeper. The Atletico Madrid man, somehow fortuitously has his third goal in this competition.
52’: Isco with a skyward shot. 0-0.
Carvajal breaks through on the right and feeds it to his club mate but the midfielder can’t get his 11th international goal.
The sound of vuvuzelas is over-taking Kazan..
49’: Beiranvand with a good save. 0-0.
The Iranian keeper with a double save here to foil Spain. Lucas Vasquez congratulates him on his save.
46’: We have kick-off in the second half. 0-0.
Expect more of the same as Iran sit deep and invite Spain to attack. La Roja desperately need these three points.
HT: Spain have dominated possession, also having 10 attempts to Iran’s 2. Half of those, 5 have been blocked by the Iranian defence as they have stifled La Roja’s creativity and passing play. Carlos Queiroz will be a happy man.
Half-time and no goals in Kazan so far. 0-0.
Spain have been frustrated by the eight-time Asian champions who have defended as an unit. Excellent back to the walls stuff by team Melli, who have stuck to their game plan and had time to attack the 2010 champions on the counter.
45’: Three minutes added on at the end of the half. 0-0.
3 minutes added on, at the end of the half! This is rare and is indicative of how much time has been wasted in these 45 minute. Spain have 71% possession.
40’ : Lots of stoppages to this game. 0-0.
Many players going down in Kazan as referee refuses to let this get out of hand. Diego Costa flaring up, angry at what he thinks is play-acting by the Iranians.
35’: Iran’s defenders are up there for a throw.
They treat it like a corner, with all their big guys up there. It’s taken long, but it is headed away by Sergio Ramos.
29’: Oooh Silva goes close. 0-0.
The midfielder has the ball drop to him in a goalmouth scramble but his acrobatic kick with his back to the goal only balloons the ball over the bar.
24’: Silva’s free-kick is straight at the keeper. 0-0.
The midfield maestro shoots from distance but Beiranvand is equal to it. That was Spain’s first shot on target.
21’: Spain threaten down the right but Iran get it away. 0-0.
La Roja have 77% possession and completed 167 passes to Iran’s 24, as they start crowding Team Melli’s final third. Maenwhile, there’s an air of freedom at the Azadi stadium in Tehran as woman enter a stadium after 37 years to watch their home team on screen.
13’: Iran see a shot go wide. 0-0.
The Asians already have six shots to their name. They have started brightly but Spain’s passing play is starting to wear them down bit by bit.
Meanwhile, a bit of banter about Pique and Ramos.
9’: Silva’s free-kick is headed away. 0-0.
The Manchester City man has a chance in an advanced area but is unable to take advantage of it.
4’: Iran have more than matched up to Spain in the opening stages. 0-0
Meanwhile Gerard Pique completes 100 caps for Spain tonight.
1’: We have kick-off at the Kazan Arena.
Spain plays in white, while Iran are in red.
11:20 pm: If Iran manage to get a positive result tonight, this group would become fascinating heading into the final set of fixtures. Will Spain live up to their pedigree tonight or do we have another World Cup surprise in store? 10 mins away from kickoff.
11:12 pm: The senior sides are meeting each other for the first time at the senior level, but they went head-to-head in the Under-17 World Cup in India last year. Spain won 3-1 that night.
11:08 pm: This is brilliant, isn’t it?
11:05 pm: Iran have never beaten European opposition at the World Cup (1 draw, 5 defeats) while Spain have lost only once in five meetings against AFC opposition – that famous penalty shootout defeat against South Korea in 2002.
11:00 pm: News from the second match of the day... Uruguay and Russia are through. Egypt and Salah are going home.
10:50 pm: Spain are on a 21-match unbeaten run, the longest streak in international football currently. And they have scored in every one of those 21 games.
10:45 pm:
Iran line-up without Reza Ghoochannejhad as Carlos Queiroz sacrifices a forward for more control at the back. Clearly, Spain have had an effect on the Portuguese manager’s plans.
10:40 pm: Spain’s line-ups are out, and there are two changes. Lucas Vazquez starts in place of Koke, and goal-scorer Nacho Fernandez is dropped for Dani Carvajal. A more attacking minded line-up from Fernando Hierro, who is hoping his side get the win tonight.
Welcome to the Field’s live blog of Iran versus Spain. After their opening day draw against Portugal, Spain will be looking to bounce back against the Team Melli. Iran may be set to let in women to the stadium for the first time.
Iran had a fortuitous 1-0 win against Morocco, courtesy an own goal but coupled with Portugal’s win, a draw or a win here would dramatically improve their chances of progression.