World Cup 2022: Reasons for Iran to be confident of beating England at World Cup

Iran take on England in the World Cup Group B curtain-raiser on Monday. Carlos Queiroz's side are ranked inside the top 20 teams in world football. Sports Mole looks at some reasons why Iran should be confident of getting a result against England.

England have had slow starts in their last eight World Cup openers. They haven't won a curtain-raiser by more than one goal since 1998 against Tunisia. Their only other opening-game win since 1982 saw a Carlos Gamarra own goal earn them a slender 1-0 triumph over Paraguay in 2006.

Iran have just two defeats from their last 21 matches. They have also kept 14 clean sheets in their past 20 games. Iran are in Group B with England, who are on a six-game winless streak. Iran have won against Uruguay and drawn with Africa Cup of Nations holders Senegal since September.

Iran have the worst goals-per-game ratio of teams to have played more than 10 World Cup matches. They registered the fewest goals, shots and shots on target. Queiroz has only named three strikers in his squad. Sardar Azmoun, Karim Ansarifard and Mehdi Taremi are Iran's top scorers.