Afshin Afshar, lastkick.com

Iran will play a friendly against Iceland tomorrow. In most other cases this would be just another friendly, but for Team Melli and its fans every game is a must win. Perhaps it is the fact that in the last few years Team Melli has not played many games against well recognized opponents and the fans are thirsty for a good show against a worthy opponent; Asian teams not counting.

Iceland is many ways is the worst kind of opponent Team Melli may face. The Icelanders have a size advantage, are a very physical team, and enjoy excellent fitness. Additionally they are good in the air and have respectable speed.

Iran has not had a memorable showing in a long time and there are no signs that it might have one tomorrow. So, unless something unexpected happens, Iceland should win the match, and almost immediately after the calls for Coach Afshin Ghotbi's head will be coming from all corners of the Iran's xenophobic football establishment.

For his part Ghotbi dismissed the notion that his critics may use a bad performance tomorrow against him at a press conference yesterday, but he has been around Iranian football long enough to know better.