Angola can progress but need help from abroad

Group D: Angola play in Leipzig this afternoon with a reasonable chance of progressing to the last 16 in their first World Cup. But they need to actually score against the hapless Iranians and require Portugal, with whom they share a language, to do them a favour by beating Mexico.

It promises to be one of those draining, eye-on-the-clock afternoons for the Palancas Negras of the kind we in Ireland used to specialise in back when we were giant-slayers. Angola celebrated their 0-0 draw with Mexico in absolute jubilation, coach Luis Goncalves confirming it was the best moment in the history of Angolan football.

It was mainly attributable to a heroic performance from goalkeeper Joao Ricardo, which will be long remembered for his sensational 88th-minute save of a bullet from Mexico's Rafael Marquez. But with Mexico holding the better goal difference, Angola will depend on their all-time leading scorer, Akwa, to puncture the Iranians.

Iran's afternoon will not be made easier by the suspension of Javad Nekoman and there is also a possibility their big star, Ali Karimi, may be ruled out by an ankle injury. In that event, their long-serving frontman Ali Daiei could come in.

The conservative Goncalves has played Akwa as the lone man up front in the first two games but will surely have to opt for a more expansive plan here, with Mantorres a possible option alongside the captain.

A victory would represent a fine World Cup for Angola and they may well achieve that.

But although they might enjoy the fact of a win, it seems probable they will just be squeezed out of the reckoning for an historic place in the last 16.

Probable line-ups

Iran (4-4-1-1)

Mirzapour; Kaebi, Rezaei, Bakhtiarizadeh, Nosrati; Mahdavikia, Karimi, Zandi, Madanchi; Taymoorian; Hashemian.

Angola (4-5-1)

Ricardo; Loco, Jamba, Kali, Delgado; Kalanga, Marques, Figueiredo, Mateus, Mendonca; Akwa.

Referee: M Shield (Australia)

Kick-off: 3pm

Venue: Zentralstadion, Leipzig

On TV: Highlights BBC 1 (10.50)