Morocco vs Iran World Cup 2018: Even the return of vuvuzelas can’t drown out last-minute drama

The first match in Group B remained goalless ahead of Portugal vs Spain

It was the game that many picked as one they could afford to miss in the World Cup 2018 – and while it started fantastically, the players tired and the game slowed. You would have been forgiven for switching off midway through the second half, and you would have been right to – up until the final minute.

Aziz Bouhaddouz’s late own goal saw Iran nick a shock win and all but end Morocco’s slim hopes of reaching the Round of 16.

Here’s five things we learned from the Group B opener…

It’s 2010… apparently

Kick-off in St Petersburg was met with a cacophony of vuvuzelas, or what sounded like them, harking back to the irritating noise which provided the soundtrack to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Vuvuzela’s were consequently banned from stadia up and down the country in England.

It seems that ban didn’t extend as far as north-western Russia as the vuvuzela’s drowned out any atmosphere that threatened to build – like a giant grasshopper was sat by the tannoy system for 90 minutes. Harking back to nostalgic World Cups of old is great – vuvuzela’s are not.

If in doubt, play pub football

Pub football may be a slightly harsh term but after two games of teams not really putting in a big challenge, we finally got a bit of grit and nastiness to this World Cup. Iran’s captain Masoud Shojaei was the first to enter the referee’s book and there was plenty of naughtiness to follow.

If that wasn’t enough then we also had a classic goalmouth scramble with limbs and bodies flying everywhere. There were air-kicks, blocked shots, sliced crosses and more. Total football.

(Getty Images)

Even smaller-team games are enthralling

Looking at the World Cup schedule, this game may have been one you wanted to miss, with neither team having a star name or especially known for goals. In fact, Morocco are known for the exact opposite – their defence.

However, the game was end-to-end, with Morocco breaking on the counter attack at pace and Iran throwing everything they could in their way – literally anything, hence the yellow card count. Understandably, energy levels dropped and things petered out after an enthusiastic start.

Finishing leaves a lot to be desired

(AFP/Getty Images)

While the build-up play got the pulses racing for both sides during the game, there was a lot left to give when it came to actually hitting the target. Morocco’s Sardar Azmoun was sent through on goal on the stroke of half-time with it looking like for all the world he would break the deadlock. He took one touch too many – and a poor one at that – and it was easily saved in the end.

It was then Amine Harit’s time to put his name up in lights but again lines were fluffed. A result of such a high-tempo game that chances were increasingly missed? Perhaps.

Chance blown and chance taken

It was always going to be difficult to finish ahead of Spain or Portugal in Group B, but if it was going to happen, one of these two teams needed to take the game by the scruff of the neck and win it - and Iran did just that.

Morocco were the better team throughout but a last-minute own goal saw Iran go wild and move to the top of Group B, even if it is temporarily.