England vs Iran World Cup Picks and Predictions: Kane and Co. Enter as Heavy Chalk in Opener

Sunday might be the start of the World Cup, but it’s Monday when the business really gets going with both England and the Netherlands playing. England faces Iran in a Group B clash, and the traveling England fans will have high hopes for Southgate’s men.

With England disappointing in recent months, is there a chance that Iran create a historic shock upset in the World Cup odds? Don’t miss our England vs. Iran World Cup picks and predictions.

England vs Iran odds

England vs Iran picks and predictions

The first of Monday’s games sees England face Iran in a match that sees Gareth Southgate’s England team as strong favorites. England have a lot of talent in their team, but expectations have dropped following some poor results in the Nations League, where we saw them struggle against Germany, Italy, and Hungary.

Despite concerns over England’s ability to win the World Cup, the general thought has been that it should thrash Iran. I’m sorry, but it just won’t be that easy. Iran aren’t blessed with many global names, but they’re a well-drilled team who have an experienced manager in Carlos Queiroz.

They qualified at the top of their AFC Third Qualification Round group, ahead of South Korea, and with more points than Saudi Arabia and Japan in the other group. They conceded just four goals in 10 games and kept things very tight at the back. Iran will set up with players behind the ball, one man up front, and they’ll sit back and soak up English pressure before trying to hit them on the counter-attack.

There’s one thing that England have struggled with in recent months, and that’s breaking down teams who sit back and defend. They’ll need the creativity and guile of Phil Foden and Jack Grealish to unlock the Iranian defense and get England ahead. You also have to take into account the location. Doha is in close proximity to Iran, so we may see Iranian fans outnumber the traveling English.

The heat, too, will cause problems, with temperatures far hotter than the English players will be used to. This game kicks off at 1:00 pm local time, and the sun will be at its hottest. That will make this game slower and more laborious for England.

With England being such strong favorites, it’s hard to find big value in the result. However, England to win and Under 2.5 goals at +162 looks like a good price, given how we know Iran will set up and try and get through this game.

My best bet: England to win and Under 2.5 goals (+162 at bet365)

England vs Iran side analysis

Even though England haven’t been their best across the past eight months, they’re still by far the best team here in terms of raw ability and experience. England have the best in every department on the field, but they’ll need to be creative to break Iran down.

With this game taking place less than a week after England landed in Qatar, it’s unlikely England have had much time to train with different formations, so I’d expect to see Southgate set England up in a 3-4-3, with three central defenders and two wingbacks. It’s a decision that will get the manager criticized, but he doesn’t have time to switch between multiple systems.

The big question for England is who’ll start either side of Harry Kane. I’d expect him to start Raheem Sterling on the left, despite some poor form for Chelsea. On the right, he must surely play Phil Foden. The Man City star hasn’t really had a great game in his short England career, but he’s simply too talented to start on the bench, and his passing and movement could cause Iran real issues.

England vs Iran Over/Under analysis

As mentioned above, I’m expecting England to come into this game playing a system that is traditionally more defensive and protect a backline that has struggled for form and fitness at the domestic level this year. That’ll also put extra pressure on the forwards to find ways to get through Iran’s deep block.

England have enough quality on the field to create opportunities, and they have players capable of both excellent delivery and great aerial ability, which makes them a danger at set plays. They will be conservative enough defensively that they won’t concede once. For those reasons, I’d lean toward backing Under 2.5 goals at -135.

England vs Iran game info

England vs Iran key injuries

England: Kyle Walker RB (Questionable).
Iran: No injuries to report.

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