Iran's Alireza Jahanbakhsh talks World Cup draw with England

Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh has said he had hoped to avoid England in this year's World Cup. The winger, who plays his club football in the Netherlands with AZ Alkmaar, will be looking to get his first taste of top-level international football at the tournament - which gets underway on June 14th - after being handed the armband by Carlos Queiroz. The draw, which was conducted on December 1st in Moscow, pitted Iran and England together at Group G, along with 2010 champions Spain and Morocco.

Iranian Players React to World Cup Draw
Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh said it is difficult to play in a group containing Spain, Portugal and Morocco but said his team will try to qualify from a tough group. The former NEC Nijmegen winger told 8Xbet: It was difficult to find a country more difficult than any other, but there is always one in each group.

8xbet World Cup odds
Iran’s odds of making it out of Group B are 33/1. England are favourites at 5/6 while Spain and Portugal are both 7/2 to get out of Group B. Before you place your bets, here’s what Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh had to say about Saturday’s draw.

The good, bad and ugly of Friday's groups
Iran and Spain will face-off on June 20 in Kazan, before facing off again three days later at Mordovia Arena. For Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Iran captain and top scorer for his country at last year's Asian Games, England were not exactly one of his favoured opponents: I hoped to avoid them, he said. I don't really like to play against teams from our continent because that means it will be more difficult for us if we get through.

It was the toughest group
It was always going to be tough, as they say. But it’s one that Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh will have looked at and feared. Drawn in Group B alongside Spain, Portugal and Morocco, there is no easy way out of a group like that. A team to avoid? Yes, but also a team you could see yourself losing against—at least on paper. Luckily for him, he may never come across them at all.

It doesn't make any difference
Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh says he is not fazed by England being in his side's group at this year's World Cup. Iran were drawn in Group B alongside Gareth Southgate's men, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, and Spain and Morocco.

A group that could go all the way
Iran have made it to three of their four previous World Cups but have never won a match. If they are to make some noise in Russia, it will be largely down to attacking players such as Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who is set for his first major tournament at just 24.

It could be the best group in terms of quality
one of football’s rising stars says he is desperate to avoid a meeting with England in Russia. Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh told 8xbet: The English team are still one of the favourites to win it all. They have really improved over recent years, so for us, we have drawn a tough group. That said, I think it’s great for football that there are at least six or seven teams that could go on and win it all.