Event of the Day: Iran versus Portugal
Our event of the day is the FIFA World Cup match from Group B between Iran and Portugal at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk. Today’s rivals will decide in a direct clash who will go through to the knock-out stages from the group in which Morocco have already been eliminated, with zero points from the first two matchdays. Portugal share the top spot with Spain as they both have four points and identical goal difference and therefore would secure a place in the last 16 with a draw today.
Iran have three points and a win would seal progression to the next round for them. They recorded only their second World Cup win when they played the Moroccans in their opening game, winning 1-0 before they lost to Spain 1-0 last Wednesday. The European champions, Portugal, took three points with their victory over Morocco last week, following their thrilling 3-3 draw with Spain in their opening match. All four goals for the Portuguese so far in the tournament have been scored by their top scorer and captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid star is now Europe’s all time highest international goal scorer. Counting the qualifiers, the Portuguese are undefeated in eleven competitive games, of which they have won ten. On the other side, the Iranians were unbeaten in all ten Asian qualification zone matches. Portugal have won the only meeting between these sides so far - at the 2006 World Cup in Germany where they beat the Iranians 2-0 in the group stage. Which side will make the knockout stages of this World Cup today? Find out after this showdown in Saransk.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the opening day of the County Championship Division One match between Yorkshire and Surrey at the North Marine Road Ground in Scarborough. Yorkshire are fifth in the table with 62 points from six matches so far, while Surrey are the leaders with 108 points from the same number of games. Additionally in the County Championship Division One, Lancashire begin their clash with Hampshire at Old Trafford in Manchester; Essex meet Somerset at the County Ground in Chelmsford; and Nottinghamshire take on Worcestershire at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Also in cricket, it’s Day 3 of the 3rd Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. Elsewhere in the FIFA World Cup, Spain face Morocco at the Kaliningrad Stadium in Konigsberg in Group B; whilst in Group A, Uruguay go head-to-head with hosts Russia at the Samara Arena and Saudi Arabia matchup with Egypt at the Volgograd Arena. It’s the first day of the ATP World Tour’s and second day of the WTA World Tour’s Nature Valley International at the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club in Eastbourne. It’s Day 2 of the ATP World Tour’s Antalya Open at the Kaya Palazzo Belek in Antalya. In the MLB, the Philadelphia Phillies host the New York Yankees at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by FIFA