I continue to think we may surprisingly have a better chance against the (still very good) Egypt side, and I agree that Iran have way more to prove to everyone than Egypt does. The Iranians have the physicality and skill plus really strong motivation - that is an excellent combination. This is not Iran's first rodeo at the WC; they also would like to go beyond the group stage this time for a change.
This might be showing my age, but I remember the playoffs for the 1998 WC in France, with Iran in the second leg against Australia in Sydney. The Socceroos were so close to advancing they could practically smell the Gitanes and Gauloises. The Iranians never gave up and came up with two very late goals to qualify. Watching Robbie Slater walking off the field with tears streaming down his face is hard to forget.
This might be showing my age, but I remember the playoffs for the 1998 WC in France, with Iran in the second leg against Australia in Sydney. The Socceroos were so close to advancing they could practically smell the Gitanes and Gauloises. The Iranians never gave up and came up with two very late goals to qualify. Watching Robbie Slater walking off the field with tears streaming down his face is hard to forget.