Iran also remain unbeaten but have taken a different route. Amir Ghalenoei's side have drawn both of their matches, starting with a 2-2 result against New Zealand before securing a valuable 0-0 draw against Belgium. Those results leave them second in the group with two points and a neutral goal difference. The draw against Belgium demonstrated Iran's defensive resilience. They were forced to absorb significant pressure, facing 23 shots and surrendering 70% possession. One statistic that stands out is Iran's historical struggle in World Cup competition. They have won only two of their last fourteen World Cup matches, suggesting they often find it difficult to convert competitive performances into victories on the biggest stage. Should they break that jinx and pick up an unlikely victory here, Iran will finish with five points and a place in the knockout phase. A defensive 5—4—1 formation with Mehdi Taremi in attack is expected against Egypt.