Spain vs Iran: 5 Talking Points, World Cup 2018

SCORE: Spain (Costa 54') 1-0 Iran

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Spain came up against an impressive Iranian unit in their second fixture of Group B, after playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Portugal in their opener. Cristiano Ronaldo was at it again in Portugal's second fixture against Morocco, as he scored the only goal in the game to put Portugal in the driver's seat.

Ronaldo's Real Madrid teammates in the Spanish side responded well to the challenge as they picked up a vital three points in their quest to progress into the knock-out rounds after failing to do so in Brazil, four years ago. It was an Atletico man though, who got the most telling touch of the game to keep Spain in the hunt for top spot in Group B.

Diego Costa, like Ronaldo, carried on his goal-scoring form, from the previous game, to get past a resilient Iranian unit who were unlucky to not come away with a point from the game.

Here are the Talking Points:

#5 Iran defy expectations

Iran was one of the least fancied teams to make it past the group stages coming into the competition. It is the first time in their history that they have qualified for two back-to-back World Cup finals, their fifth qualification overall.

Slated in the same group as the former World Champions, Spain, and the current European Champions, Portugal, meant that their already slim chances were further diminished in the face of such tough competition. With a Moroccan side that boasts players from the top leagues in Europe making up the numbers, Iran was expected to struggle to not only earn a point, but also keep the attacking talent in the other sides at bay.

However, after their win over Morocco, Iran managed to keep their defence tight and solid once again to prevent the 2010 World Cup Champions from scoring in the opening forty-five minutes of the game. They were, at that point, the only team to not have conceded a goal in Group B. Impressive from the Asian side.

#2 Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazques impress after being brought into the starting line-up

Carvajal replaced goal-scorer Nacho

While the world was livid with the injury Salah picked up, another unfortunate incident involving Dani Carvajal in the Champions League final went under the radar.

The rampaging fullback has cemented his status as one of the finest in his position after another terrific season with the Champions League Winners. Carvajal has become indispensable to his club's as well as his nation's cause.

After missing out on the opener against Portugal - in which Nacho deputised at right-back with Isco and Silva on the wings, Carvajal was drafted back into the side, along with his Real Madrid teammate Lucas Vazques, on the right flank.

They both put in decent shifts and were vital in stretching the Iranian defence down the right side. They linked up well to charter a course toward the Iranian goal and had the opposition left back on his toes for the entirety of the game with the Spaniards regularly doubling-up on him.

This caused the Asians to overcompensate with numbers on the right flank, leaving acres of space on the left for Iniesta and Silva to exchange a couple of delightful passes before slotting Diego Costa through for the opener.

#3 Iran go 149 minutes without conceding a goal at the World Cup

Rugged at the back

Having managed to do that to Morocco in the opening fixture and then going on to steal all three points thanks to a stoppage-time own-goal, Iran had taken their first step towards defying expectations. If the manner in which they won the three points had a huge element of luck behind it, their defensive display was down to their hard work and determination.

They were very effective at thwarting any attack that the African side tried to muster up and rendered most of their attacking players utterly useless as Morocco failed to mount any serious challenge on the Iranian goal.

As impressive as that was, the way they replicated that defensive rigidity in the first half against Spain was even more praise-worthy. They managed to keep Diego Costa from affecting the game by preventing the likes of David Silva, Andres iniesta, and Isco from providing the kind of service that the Spaniard striker revels in.

They kept that up for 9 minutes after the restart. However, this time Lady Luck was smiling on the Europeans as Hosseini tried to clear the danger, but the ball took a deflection off Costa and went in. What an unfortunate way to concede a goal for the minnows.

#2 VAR comes to Spain's rescue

Iran denied the equalizer by VAR

After going a goal down to Spain in the 54th minute, instead of wilting under the pressure of having to mount a comeback against one of the best front-runners in world football, Iran responded with that sense of purpose which has seen them qualify for their consecutive World Cup finals appearance. Just six minutes after conceding the opener, Iran were awarded a free-kick, 30 yards from goal.

They loaded the opposition penalty area with numbers, but in the excitement to get his head to the ball first, Ezatolahi failed to notice that he had strayed offside. As Iran erupted into celebrations, the referee received a message in his earpiece that the goal was being looked at retrospectively by the Video Assistant Referee.

Iran's players were pleading to the referee to allow the goal to stand while they waited for confirmation. But the presence of technology at this edition of the World Cup leaves little space for emotions to govern the decision-making processes and the goal was rightly chalked off.

Iran will not be able to help but wonder what the outcome would've been, had it been any other edition of the competition. As it turned out, they will go down in history as the first team to be denied a goal through VAR at the World Cup.

#1 Spain's vulnerabilities at the back highlighted by yet another side

Iran threatened to score on a couple of occasions

Spain managed to go level on top with Portugal after edging past Iran in their second fixture of Group G. The minnows were unfortunate to come away with nothing from the game as they went toe-to-toe with one of the favourites to win the World Cup.

Spain, characteristically, ended by with 77% possession but failed to really do anything worthwhile with it as clear-cut chances were few and far between. After going a goal down, Iran tried to hit back with one of their own and exposed Spain's vulnerability at the back, something Ronaldo did similarly in the opener.

With more threatening sides to come in the latter stages of the competition, Spain will have to find a way to stay compact at the back and recover well when they lose possession further up the pitch and leave themselves vulnerable on the counter. At the moment, the plan seems to be a lot of hoping and praying that the opposition misses rather than trying to thwart any such endeavours.

They've conceded 10 goals in three out of their previous four World Cup fixtures and were fortunate to not concede another against Iran as the Asian side came close from a couple of headers, a few menacing balls into the box, and even had a goal ruled out.

Fernando Hierro has something to think about as Spain prepare for the knockout rounds.