Carlos Queiroz will be forced into at least one change as Iran square off against Wales in their second Group B fixture on Friday.

Despite hopes of remaining competitive with England on Monday, Team Melli succumbed tamely, eventually losing to the Three Lions by a 6-2 scoreline.

Iran were not helped by the early head injury sustained by goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, who controversially tried and failed to continue before inevitably needing to be substituted.

Hossein Hosseini came on for his seventh cap and will hope to be given an opportunity from the start despite conceding six times in 70 minutes.

Aside from scoring two consolation goals, the main positive to take from Monday was star man Sardar Azmoun making an appearance from the substitutes' bench, his first outing since September 30.

However, Queiroz may opt against using the Bayer Leverkusen man from the start, with Ali Gholizadeh most likely to earn a recall in attack after providing the assist for Mehdi Taremi's first goal.

Saeid Ezatolahi and Hossein Kanani were also introduced at half time of the England game and will naturally come into contention ahead of the meeting with the Dragons.

Although Alireza Jahanbakhsh was one of the trio to be withdrawn at the break, it would come as a surprise if the experienced playmaker was left out of a fixture of this magnitude.

Iran possible starting lineup: H. Hosseini; Moharrami, Pouraliganji, Cheshmi, M. Hosseini, Mohammadi; Jahanbakhsh, Noorollahi, Karimi, Gholizadeh; Taremi

>> Click here to see how Wales could line up for this match

Written by
Darren Plant