Iran

Carlos Quiroz’s entry into Team Melli, marked significant changes in the squad and one of these is the inclusion of players based outside the country such as Reeza Ghoochannejhad. And true enough, this has readily generated positive results.
 
Iran is comprised of a solid squad recognized for their “technical” maneuvers on the pitch. A great deal of experience can be also expected from the team. Quiroz has his share of World Cup appearances when he handled the Portuguese contingent from 2008 to 2010. Team captain, Javad Nekounam is also no stranger to the pressure of World cup matches.
 
Team Melli can readily capitalize on its skilled attackers, but there is a question if they can withstand Nigeria’s relentless pounding on the pitch.
 
Nigeria

Nigeria’s strong performance during the qualifiers earned them the reputation of being the next best squad after Argentina in Group F. The Super Eagles boast a reliable group of players that can propel them to greatness in the awaited competition.
 
Leading the pack is the unstoppable team captain, Vincent Enyeama. Enyeama sported an impressive season in Lille. The respected goalkeeper is the sole reason behind the numerous clean sheets that Lille earned. He has been the go to guy whenever Lille’s opponents have outlasted their respective defenders. And just the same, the team captain continues to present the same degree of intensity and aggressiveness in its national squad.
 
In terms of their attacking lineup, Nigeria is blessed to have the likes of Emmanuel Emenike, Brown Ideye and Shola Amoebi. The inclusion of Stoke’s Peter Odemwingie in the provisional list further strengthened Nigeria’s attacking options.
 
A certified 2014 FIFA World Cup favorite against Iran, Nigeria manifests a strong possibility of bagging a great finish.