please log in to view this image Argentina v Iran please log in to view this image Head-to-head The only previous meeting was a 1-1 draw in 1977. That match was held at the Bernabeu as part of a friendly tournament to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of Real Madrid. Argentina Argentina have won won 10 of their last 13 World Cup group games (D2, L1), scoring 26 goals and conceding just five times. Their only defeat in that sequence was against England in 2002. Lionel Messi has scored 21 goals in his last 21 appearances for Argentina. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three World Cup matches, conceding six goals in total. Iran Saturday will be 16 years to the day since Iran earned their only World Cup victory by beating the USA 2-1 in Lyon. That is their only win in 10 matches at the tournament (D3, L6). They recorded their first World Cup clean sheet against Nigeria. Their only previous World Cup game against a South American side was a 4-1 defeat against Peru in 1978. Five of the last nine goals Iran have conceded at World Cups have been headers. The last two goals Iran have scored at World Cups have come from corners (both in 2006).
Argentina might have to be patient here. But it's impossible to imagine anything other than a fairly comfortable victory.
