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All Whites vs Iran | Tues 16th June | 1:00pm (NZT) | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

152 replies · 7,729 views
about 1 month ago · edited about 1 month ago · History
Just a month away now, but will it be Iran?

This article a few weeks old, but looks like they have had two pre WC friendlies in the US (North Macedonia & Angola) cancelled.
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/team/iran-world-cup-2026-warm-up-friendlies-cancelled-as-fresh-doubt-cast-on-tournament-appearance

They are scheduled to play The Gambia in Turkey end of this month.

Big send off in Tehran.

https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/global-affairs/iranian-soccer-team-farewelled-before-us-2026-fifa-world-cup/video/c942201b9b9dba9dffaf801bc42934ab
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28 days ago
Iran name a 30 man preliminary squad to train in Turkey, to be cut to 26 by June 1st.
Good luck with the visa applications. Infantino might need to call up Trumpy for a favour.
Most of the squad come from the suspended Persian Gulf Pro League.
Sounds like they may have bypassed a few European based players for political reasons??
Experienced forward Sardar Azmoun was a glaring omission as Iran named their preliminary World Cup squad before departing for a pre-tournament training camp.
Azmoun, who was reportedly expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government amid the US-Israel war on Iran, was not among the 30 players named in the squad on Saturday.

The 31-year-old striker, who plays his club football in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for Dubai’s Shabab Al-Ahli, upset the Iranian authorities in March by posting a picture on his Instagram feed of a meeting with Dubai’s ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, according to reports in Iranian media.

A report on the Fars News Agency in March quoted “an informed source within the national team” as saying Azmoun had been expelled from the squad. The player later removed the picture but was still lambasted on state TV.

Azmoun has scored 57 goals in his 91 appearances for his country and was part of Iran’s squad in its last two appearances at the World Cup.

Iran’s forward line at the World Cup will be led by Mehdi Taremi, who has played in major European football leagues and is currently plying his trade at Olympiacos FC in the top tier of Greek football.
The 30-member squad will travel to Turkiye on Monday for a training camp, friendlies and to complete visa applications before heading to the United States, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/iran-fifa-world-cup-participation-37168400
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28 days ago · edited 28 days ago · History
As well as  Azmoun, intel is that Sayyadmanesh (Westerlo) and Hosseinnejad (Machatsjkala - relegation bound club in Russia) have also been banned from the national team by the regime.

Ali Gholizadeh (winger) is another big out for them after sustaining a serious knee injury (ACL tear) while playing for Lech Poznań in the Polish league. Earlier in the season he scored against Paulsen's Gdansk.

Basically they are an older, very street wise experienced side. Expect a bit of rolling around the turf, milking any contact etc.

Are their any fractures in their team due differing views on the regime, and the war?
Who knows.
 

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei announced a 30-man preliminary Iran squad for the 2026 World Cup on May 17, 2026, featuring a mix of domestic and international players, notably omitting forward Sardar Azmoun. The squad, dominated by players from the Persian Gulf Pro League and several in European and West Asian leagues, will be trimmed to 26 by June 1.

Goalkeepers
  • Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis)
  • Seyed Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal)
  • Payam Niazmand (Sepahan)
  • Mohammad Khalifeh (Persepolis) 
Defenders
  • Ehsan Hajsafi (AEK Athens)
  • Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis)
  • Omid Noorafkan (Sepahan)
  • Shoja Khalilzadeh (Tractor)
  • Ali Nemati (Persepolis)
  • Hossein Kanaani (Persepolis)
  • Danial Eiri (Tractor)
  • Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad)
  • Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal) 
Midfielders
  • Saman Ghoddos (Kalba)
  • Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal)
  • Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia (Kia Football Academy)
  • Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al Ahli)
  • Mohammad Ghorbani (Al Wahda)
  • Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord)
  • Aria Yousefi (Sepahan)
  • Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov)
  • Mehdi Ghaedi (Ittihad Kalba)
  • Mehdi Torabi (Persepolis) 
Forwards
  • Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos)
  • Hadi Habibinejad (Nassaji)
  • Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor)
  • Amirhossein Mahmoudi (Malavan)
  • Dennis Dargahi (Union Saint-Gilloise)
  • Kasra Taheri (Rubin Kazan)
  • Ali Alipour (Gil Vicente)
 
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28 days ago · edited 28 days ago · History
Revamping an already $USD5Billion dollar stadium!

I remember in about March 2022 met a couple of older Americans who had just been to the Super Bowl (Bengals v Rams) held at this newly built stadium.
They said it was a pretty amazing structure.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/05/18/how-all-whites-fifa-mens-world-cup-venue-is-being-transformed/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0d8c6i8Wxo
image.png 700.17 KB
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28 days ago
Its going to be hard just what state the Iran team will be when they walk out on the field for the match against NZ.
Will they come out like mad dogs and fight to show their Western oppressors that they are a strong united people. Or will they just collapse under the pressure.
Because they will be under huge pressure. There has already 50 ,000 tickets sold, mostly to Iranian Americans who hate the current regime and will show that in the stands. Meanwhile the players will be under threats from their minders to not replicate what their womens team did in Oz, like not sing the anthem and try to defect.
In the meantime the worlds media will zone in on this match.
It should be a great watch.
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Endorsed by
AntzOi Oi Edgecumbe
26 days ago
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360981462/iran-soccers-excluded-star-azmoun-posts-support-players

They have returned to Turkish coastal resort Antalya where in March they played two warmup games and also met FIFA president Gianni Infantino to talk about the logistical and political challenges of entering and playing games in the United States.

A follow-up meeting Saturday between Iranian soccer leaders and FIFA officials in Istanbul did not lead to any guarantees being announced about getting visas to enter the US.

US President Donald Trump's administration promised in January to give athletes and coaches visiting for major sporting events an exemption from travel bans, but not other officials.
Iran national soccer team players arrive to Antalya, southern Turkey on Monday. Photo: AP
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26 days ago
Have already made it clear to my students that the classroom TV will be screening this match, and if they're not watching it, they are working silently, or else...
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Endorsed by
Buffon IIcoochieeFohepatitis+3
24 days ago
https://twitter.com/NZ_Football/status/2057649327246594224

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24 days ago
Khalil Media wrote:
Have already made it clear to my students that the classroom TV will be screening this match, and if they're not watching it, they are working silently, or else...
I mean this is bigger than Nixon’s ping pong in China. Current Events writ large, as they happen…


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24 days ago
I wonder who is going to have a huge Cup for us and get a big transfer out of this. 

I think someone like, Bell, Paulsen or Bindon could attract a lot of interest if they go well..
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22 days ago · edited 22 days ago · History
I understand alot of Sth California folk drive across the border to Tijuana, to fly internationally. The flights being cheaper.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360983153/irans-football-federation-says-teams-world-cup-base-camp-has-been-moved-mexico-us

The president of the governing body of Iranian soccer said Saturday the nation's World Cup training base has been moved to Mexico from the United States after getting approval from Fifa.

Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, announced the decision Saturday in a statement issued by the federation's media relations official. Fifa has not confirmed the move.

Iran had been scheduled to train in Tucson, Arizona, but a move has been a possibility because of uncertainty surrounding the war in the Middle East and security concerns. Officials at Tucson's Kino Sports Complex had no comment.

The federation says the team will now be based in Tijuana, Mexico, just south of San Diego. This year's World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 and will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

“All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved Fifa," Taj said in his statement.

“Fortunately, following the requests we submitted and the meetings we held with Fifa and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as the webinar meeting we had yesterday in the Tehran with the respected Fifa secretary general, our request to change the team's base from the United States to Mexico was approved.”

Iran plays Group G games in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium six days later, then faces Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

Team Melli is appearing in its fourth straight World Cup and seventh overall. It has never advanced past the first round.

Iran's federation said moving the base camp will resolve potential visa issues since the team will enter the US through Mexico. The president said that the team “may even be able to travel to and from Mexico using Iran Air flights.”

Teams use base camps for training ahead of and after matches.
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22 days ago
Elemenop wrote:
I wonder who is going to have a huge Cup for us and get a big transfer out of this. 

I think someone like, Bell, Paulsen or Bindon could attract a lot of interest if they go well..
I mean the obvious answer is Surman. Bindon & Paulsen if they have great tournaments will most likely be fast-tracked into the first team environments at the PL clubs they are already contracted to, i.e. not transfers. Surman is at a MLS team and it is very easy to see a top 5 European league being able to offer Portland enough to let him go, and he is also young enough for clubs to see a lot of potential for growth. A £10 move could also mean a multi million NZD payment to the Nix, wouldn't that be nice. 

Bell maybe, even at the comparatively ripe old age of 27, great 6s are rare, but he is probably a pretty known quality at this point, having been a mainstay at a top club in Norway for a few seasons now. 

Even if Cacace has a great tournament you could see Wrexham wanting to hold onto him, they don't need to sell and have promotion ambitions, plus it is more good content for the next season of the tv show, one of their players at the big dance.

Stamenic and Just for me are the most likely after Surman. 
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22 days ago
Bell showed how much we missed him against Finland. Maybe both Stamenic and Thomas had an off game, but I was shocked how easily they were shut down. 
The others haven’t had a move away. Bell has tried leaving Viking once and that wasn’t great.


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22 days ago
As Eli has shown this season the right manager/club fit is oh so so crucial. I see Toulouse have signed Motherwell gaffer Askou. Could Ligue One become Just's new home?

I remember when Bell was at Brondby, he was getting criticised for not providing enough forward defence splitting passes. He may have improved on that the last few seasons, but it's still not really his game. Viking FC have a great chance to crack the UCL proper in August (2 legged UCL qualifier), so it might be another season in Norway for him.

Imanix is right. All eyes on Surman. Age 22 and regularly captaining his MLS team. A Cantab. 
He's too good now I reckon for The Championship and Blackburn Rovers. Top 5 league clubs will already be enquiring at the Timbers.
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22 days ago
He’s got a bit of the gangly Lewis Dunk thing about him, but a bit more mobile than I remember Dunk being. 


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17 days ago
Iran beat Gambia 3 - 1 in a friendly in Turkey today.
Goals by Yousefi (47')  R. Rezaeian (59')  Taremi (68')
 
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Endorsed by
Oi Oi Edgecumbe
17 days ago · edited 17 days ago · History
Hope there is a nice little bubble around the All Whites and the boys are not all on their phones reading too much about Timmy and stuff.

 So many eyes are going to be on this Iranian team and their first game.

I actually think if Tommy is going to earn his $250k payout, he needs to enforce a social media ban.

Auckland will rise once more

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Endorsed by
du
17 days ago
hepatitis wrote:
Iran beat Gambia 3 - 1 in a friendly in Turkey today.
Goals by Yousefi (47')  R. Rezaeian (59')  Taremi (68')
 
We also beat Gambia by 2 goals 😎
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.

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Endorsed by
coochieeMainland FCOi Oi Edgecumbe
17 days ago
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17 days ago
Iran's 3 goals. They are a tall team, quick to take a shot. 
The Gambia scored first.
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Endorsed by
PK
14 days ago
This article from yesterday. Iranians still in Turkey. Yet to get their Mexican visas, let alone their US ones.

Sounds like they won't even overnight in the US for their pool games, just fly in & out of Tijuana.
Must be a huge negative for them travelling the morning of games, that's far from ideal. 

Presumably they will be on some sort of charter flight, but flying time to Seattle from Tijuana is just under 3 hours!!
About 45 mins flying time to LA. Welly to Napier to play NCR in a Central League game.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/iran-still-waiting-world-cup-142522987.html

Iran's team is still waiting for United States and Mexico visas less than two weeks before the start of the World Cup, the nation's governing football body FFIRI has said.

The FFIRI said it has sent an official letter to ruling body FIFA calling for "transparancy and clarification concerning the visa process for members of the Iranian national tream delegation."

It said FIFA have been asked for a clear statement, with an answer yet to be received.

The FFIRI said that the team's travel plans to the tournament are not finalised as a result of the situation.

Iran originally wanted to set up their World Cup base camp in Tucson, Arizona. But it was moved to the Mexican city of Tijuana, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum saying the US were not willing to let Iran stay overnight.

Iran play their World Cup matches against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Los Angeles and Seattle. Their first match is on June 15.

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14 days ago · edited 14 days ago · History
Feel sorry for the Iranians.

The trouble is the world apart from NZ, MAGA and some Tim Payne supporters will be supporting the Iranians in the first game.

I’ll definitely be supporting them in game two and three.

Auckland will rise once more

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Endorsed by
MartoPK
14 days ago · edited 14 days ago · History
Not so sure, it's a bit more complex than that. The Iranian regime basically use their mens football team for propoganda purposes.

There will be an element of their diaspora at the game, waving old Iranian flags from the Shah's regime, maybe even booing the team.
Big reason why Iran had those 10 conditions they requested to FIFA. Including no flags inside the stadiums they don't like.
Some of the Iranian team have served in the IRG.

Military service compulsory in Iran, but you can choose what military branch you serve in. It doesn't have to be the IRG.
Taremi their talisman Chris Wood equivalent seems to be a regime guy.

A couple of overseas based players not selected most likely because they have openly anti regime views.

It's going to be more than just another football match.
 
AI Overview
Yes, several Iranian men’s national football team players have served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to fulfill mandatory military service requirements, which has created significant issues regarding their ability to secure U.S. visas for international tournaments.

Key Details on IRGC Service:
  • Mehdi Taremi: The national team captain and striker, who has played for European clubs like Porto and Inter Milan, is one of the highest-profile players reported to have served in the IRGC Navy. 
  • Ehsan Hajsafi: Another prominent member of the national team who has served in the IRGC. []
  • Context of Service: While many Iranian footballers fulfill their mandatory service by playing for military-affiliated clubs (such as Tractor or Malavan), some complete their commitment directly within IRGC units. 
2026 World Cup Visa Issues:
  • Iran's Football Federation president, Mehdi Taj, stated in May 2026 that players who served in the IRGC—which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S.—should be granted visas, even though the U.S. has noted that individuals with these ties might be barred. 
  • Iran's Football Federation has also complained to FIFA regarding the visa process, attempting to preempt any of their key players missing the 2026 World Cup, where Iran is scheduled to play its matches in the U.S.
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14 days ago · edited 14 days ago · History
Looks like the Gambia match, is Iran’s only international warmup game?

They also have like 17 Cacaces in their squad. Guys who haven't played any competitive club football since the start of March, due to the Middle East war. Same same but different.

At least one player not selected as the regime doesn't like them.

All in all, it's gotta help the AWs chances of getting a result.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360986860/iran-finalizes-world-cup-squad-17-homebased-players-and

Iran features five players with clubs in the United Arab Emirates, two in Belgium, Taremi in Greece and one in Russia. Belgium-based Dennis Dargahi on the official squad list is known as Dennis Eckert Ayensa at his club Standard Liege.

Iran is preparing for the World Cup at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, before a scheduled departure on Friday to their tournament base in Tijuana, Mexico.
Citing complexities with visa issues to enter the US, Iran got FIFA approval 10 days ago to move from a planned training base in Tucson, Arizona.

Iran play two games in World Cup Group G in Inglewood, California — against the All Whites on June 16 (NZT) and Belgium six days later — then goes to Seattle to face Egypt on June 27.

Iran and the US could meet in the round of 32 on July 4 at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington, Texas, if both place second in their groups.

Iran squad
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis)

Defenders: Danial Eiri (Malavan), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal), Hossein Kanaani (Persepolis), Shoja Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ali Nemati (Foolad), Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad)

Midfielders: Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al-Ahli), Mehdi Ghayedi (Al-Nasr), Saman Ghoddos (Kalba), Mohammad Ghorbani (Al-Wahda), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender), Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov), Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia (Esteghlal), Mehdi Torabi (Tractor), Aria Yousefi (Sepahan)

Forwards: Ali Alipour (Persepolis), Dennis Dargahi (Standard Liege), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor), Mehdi Taremi (Olympiakos), Shahriar Moghanlou (Kalba)
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13 days ago
coochiee wrote:
Looks like the Gambia match, is Iran’s only international warmup game?
Nah, their final warm-up game is against Mali on the 4th.
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Endorsed by
coochiee
12 days ago · edited 12 days ago · History
coochiee wrote:
Not so sure, it's a bit more complex than that. The Iranian regime basically use their mens football team for propoganda purposes.

There will be an element of their diaspora at the game, waving old Iranian flags from the Shah's regime, maybe even booing the team.
Big reason why Iran had those 10 conditions they requested to FIFA. Including no flags inside the stadiums they don't like.
Some of the Iranian team have served in the IRG.

Military service compulsory in Iran, but you can choose what military branch you serve in. It doesn't have to be the IRG.
Taremi their talisman Chris Wood equivalent seems to be a regime guy.

A couple of overseas based players not selected most likely because they have openly anti regime views.

It's going to be more than just another football match.

AI Overview
Yes, several Iranian men’s national football team players have served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to fulfill mandatory military service requirements, which has created significant issues regarding their ability to secure U.S. visas for international tournaments.

Key Details on IRGC Service: 
  • Mehdi Taremi: The national team captain and striker, who has played for European clubs like Porto and Inter Milan, is one of the highest-profile players reported to have served in the IRGC Navy. 
  • Ehsan Hajsafi: Another prominent member of the national team who has served in the IRGC. []
  • Context of Service: While many Iranian footballers fulfill their mandatory service by playing for military-affiliated clubs (such as Tractor or Malavan), some complete their commitment directly within IRGC units. 
2026 World Cup Visa Issues:
 
  • Iran's Football Federation president, Mehdi Taj, stated in May 2026 that players who served in the IRGC—which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S.—should be granted visas, even though the U.S. has noted that individuals with these ties might be barred. 

  • Iran's Football Federation has also complained to FIFA regarding the visa process, attempting to preempt any of their key players missing the 2026 World Cup, where Iran is scheduled to play its matches in the U.S.
 
True some have been in the IRGC. Its not a choice they have. I have a number of friends who were forced into the IRGC's civil defence unit as they were studying engineering at University in Tehran and Shiraz. 

There's no escaping military service (IRGC) in Iran like there is for certain members of the Jewish community. That does not mean they support the regime. Far from it I would imagine.

Iranians will be behind their team as LA is the biggest Persian city outside of Iran itself (London next). They are no friends of the current regime so I do not expect to see any IR flags in the stadium.
Supporter of the world's best football teams: Waikato..., Kingz FC, NZ Knights, The Nix, The Argyle & of course the All Whites

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12 days ago
Hard for a kiwi to also compare - in the Iran/Iraq war over a million Iranians lost their lives.

Auckland will rise once more

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Endorsed by
Marto
10 days ago
Good on them Tough time for this team, even from the logistics viewpoint, politics aside.


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10 days ago · edited 10 days ago · History
Interesting that Iran are now no longer going to Arizona, but are going to be based in Mexico border city Tijuana. 
It's only about a 30 minute drive from there, to where the AWs will be training over the border in San Diego.

Watch out for stories of spying and mystery figures hanging around training venues. 

Though I guess the difficulty in the Iranians getting US visas, lessens that possibility.
To be fair to them Tijuana on the Pacific Coast makes sense keeping them out of the problematic USA, but well located for travel to their matches in LA (x2) and Seattle.
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Endorsed by
PK
8 days ago
Dress rehearsals are over.

Hopefully we learned that teams playing hard with passion means you have to be up for it yourself and onto your game right from the start. 
Haiti had more passion right throughout their game.

Whereas England were fluffing about, made it easier for us to defend.

We’ll be defending a lot. Much as I like Paulson from his two seasons here in the A-League, I expect that Crocombe will start, he looked reasonably assured, and he has had a good long championship season behind him where he helped keep his team at the top of the league. Whereas Paulson had the opposite at a lower level. 

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Endorsed by
Mainland FC
8 days ago
Game of the decade for the All Whites 🙏🏽 
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8 days ago
Do we use Garbett or McCowatt in place of Singh in the starting XI and have Thomas or Bayliss come off the bench?
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8 days ago
If Singh does not play against Iran then he will never get into shape for the Egypt game, and we need him to play well, at least some parts of each game.
Even if not a full game he needs some more time on the park.   



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