More bad news: first opponents Iran are starting to look good!

Iran beat Uruguay 1-0 on Friday and suddenly are not looking like the whipping boys in Group B which contains England, Wales and the USa. returning manager Carlos Queiroz — formerly Sir alex Ferguson’s no 2 at Manchester United — has galvanised them. Here are five players who will pose a threat when they meet England first up in Doha…

MEHDI TAREMI FORWARD

Iran’S biggest threat and their outstanding player. The no 9 has consistently scored and assisted goals for the last three seasons at Porto and though he is best known for his bicycle-kick finish against Chelsea in the 2020-21 Champions League, he also brought the best out of Luis Diaz before the Colombian left Porto for Liverpool last season. Taremi provided many assists in that effective partnership. The 30-year-old will probably play on the right of a three in Doha, running on to knock-downs from the 6ft 1in target-man Sardar azmoun.

SAMAN GHODDOS FORWARD

BrEnTForD forward Ghoddos was a real danger across the front line against Uruguay. He began the move which brought the goal and delivered the pass of the night, in a one-two from which Mehdi Torabi should have scored. a lack of game time at Brentford, where the 29-year-old hasn’t appeared from the bench this season, could mean Queiroz does not start with him but his favoured position is right behind centre forward azmoun.

SAEID EZATOLAHI DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER

a tall, elegant midfielder who plays with his head up, has time on the ball and links play. never quite fulfilled his early promise and, after a season with atletico Madrid as a youth player, he has had to adjust to a series of loans, including a brief spell at reading curtailed by injury. occasional tendency not to shift the ball fast enough but an eye-catching 25-year-old who could be a real presence for Iran

ALIREZA BEIRANVAND GOALKEEPER

IT’S going to be a fight between the two goalkeepers — Beiranvand and Sayedpayam niazmand — for the starting spot in Doha but in Beiranvand, England and Wales will be up against a very good shot-stopper who saved a penalty from Cristiano ronaldo at the 2018 World Cup in russia. The 6ft 5in 30-year-old made a string of sharp saves against Uruguay on Friday. He is also equipped with a huge throw and holds a Guinness World record for hurling the ball 67 yards in a 2016 game against South Korea.

HOSSEIN KANANI DEFENDER

a joUrnEyMan who has never made the big leagues but he is the player who could potentially most frustrate Gareth Southgate and rob Page, as the defensive pillar for Iran. arguably the Iranian team’s best quality is their indefatigability and fight. They categorically refuse to roll over. Kanani, a 28-year-old who plays for a Qatari club side, most epitomised this against Uruguay, literally going nose-to-nose with Luis Suarez. He made an excellent last-ditch challenge to deny Liverpool’s Darwin nunez in that game.