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Iran 0 Hungary 2, April 20th 1998 Published: April 21, 1998
Iran were booed from the field after a 2-0 defeat against Hungary in Tehran. Local fans chanted the name of the previous coach and taunted new boss Tomoslav Ivic after an extremely poor first half performance that only improved slightly after the interval. Nothing went right for the home side who looked tired and ordinary throughout a first half in which they conceded two goals and were almost further behind on several occassions. The shape of the side looked very starnge early in the game with as many as eight players defending in zones as the Hungarian players attacked between them and ran into spaces to set up a string of chances. The crowd sang the name of former coach Valdeir Viera as unrest grew at the miserable display. Iran had only real chance in the game which a nervous Khodadad Azizi hit straight at the goalkeeper
when he ran through in the 38th minute. It was an unusually weak finish from the top striker in the side and is a symptom of the brick wall Iran have run into over the last
three months with new coach Ivic. After qualifying they have made rapid backward steps and need a good performance against
Jamaica if they are to avert a crisis only weeks before France.
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