The wing-backs may be key for Argentina to prise open this stubborn Iranian defence, Marco Rojo gets clear down the left but his delivery is not up to scratch and Iran get it away.

Moments later at the other end Iran have a sight of goal as Jalal Hosseini heads a free-kick wide.

It's our pleasure Neil. You enjoy yourself!

Javier Mascherano is winning his 100th cap this afternoon by the way and he is already into the thick of it.

Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon
BBC Radio 5 live

"This is a whole new experience for me, seeing South American football. It really is something else. When you hear the national anthem for Argentina it really is a real joy. One of those moments where despite the heat in the stadium you are getting goose bumps. I'm privileged to experience this."

Iran, all in red, get us up and running.

If anybody is still interested in news from the England camp, there is a news conference due to get under way any minute now. You can follow the action by clicking on the 'Live Coverage' tab at the top.

Sportingintelligence:, external Iran are number one at the World Cup in one respect. Most fans watched their qualifiers, in total and per game.

David Ornstein
BBC Sport at Estadio Mineirao

"This pre-match atmosphere is surely up there with the best we've witnessed so far at this World Cup. The Argentina fans are singing one song over and over and over again, it's echoing around the stadium, the Iran supporters are responding with deafening chants of their own in, scarves are being swirled around heads, balloons being thrust into the air, horns being blown. Incredible."

Argentina: Romero, Zabaleta, Garay, Federico Fernandez, Rojo, Gago, Mascherano, Di Maria, Aguero, Messi, Higuain. Subs: Orion, Campagnaro, Biglia, Perez, Maxi Rodriguez, Augusto Fernandez, Demichelis, Palacio, Alvarez, Lavezzi, Basanta, Andujar.

Iran: Alireza Haghighi, Montazeri, Hosseini, Sadeghi, Pouladi, Shojaei, Teymourian, Nekounam, Hajsafi, Dejagah, Ghoochannejhad. Subs: Ahmadi, Heydari, Reza Haghighi, Jahanbakhsh, Ansarifard, Hadadifar, Mahini, Alnameh, Rahmani, Beikzadeh, Beitashour, Davari.

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Lionel Messi leads his men out and it's anthems time. Himno Nacional Argentino has surely rarely been heard louder outside their shores...

Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon
BBC Radio 5 live

"I expect Iran to put up a wall. It may not be deliberate but the players Argentina have means they will just dominate possession. The point against Nigeria was a fantastic start for Iran but this is a different animal all together."

Here come the players. The place erupts as Lionel Messi appears on the big screens...

Noah Rhodes goes 3-5-2:, external Ochoa; Marquez, Vlaar, Armero; Robben, Muller, Rodriguez, Cahill, Ruiz; Sanchez, Van Persie

Send us your team of the tournament as Noah has done or even your flop XI. Get in touch by tweeting #bbcworldcup, texting 81111 or commenting on the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

From what I've seen of the tournament so far, Argentina win hands down on fan volume. Their thousands of followers are making an incendiary noise! The Estadio Mineirao is booming.

Image source, Getty Images

On this day at the 1998 World Cup in France, Iran beat the United States 2-1 in one of the most politically-charged matches in history.

The two countries had no diplomatic relations but the teams tried to diffuse some of the tension surrounding the game with a lavish exchange of gifts before kick-off.

The US were favourites going into the first-round match but goals from Hamid Esteli and Mehdi Mahdavikia put Iran ahead before Brian McBride pulled a goal back late on. The result eliminated the US and sparked wild celebrations in Tehran.

South American football expert Tim Vickery
BBC Radio 5 live

"Costa Rica have picked up two wins. They have benefited from taking on two sides in conditions of extreme heat. Uruguay trained in Montevideo where their warm-up matches were in cool conditions and Italy were dead on their feet for a game taking place far further north than their base in Rio.

"I think conditions played an important role for Costa Rica and the heat does drain you.

"Argentina will go through the entire tournament without ever once playing in those tough conditions. If they finish first in the group or second in the group, they will never go further north than Brasilia. You have to put them down as potential finalists."

Matt in Balham: Flop XI (so far): Casillas, Baines, Jagielka, Pique, Johnson, David Silva, Xavi, Yaya Toure, Silva, Costa, C. Ronaldo.

That is some team on paper! But have you got David Silva twice? I don't think he deserves that...

Fernando Gago's introduction at half-time against Bosnia made a real difference to the Argentina team and it's no surprise that the Boca man is in from kick-off today.

The 28-year-old was an expensive flop for Real Madrid - nicknamed 'Lady Gago' by the Spanish press. But he won't be the last man to fail at the Bernabeu and still be a classy operator.

Argentina will join the likes of Costa Rica and Colombia in the last 16 with a win this afternoon.

They have won 10 and lost just one of their last 13 World Cup group games, scoring 26 and conceding just five in total in this run.

More of the same on its way?

BBC Sport's David Ornstein in Belo Horizonte

"Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella spoke in his pre-match news conference about returning to a 4-3-3 formation after experimenting with 5-3-2 in the first half of Sunday's victory over Bosnia - and that has been confirmed on the teamsheets. It means Gonzalo Higuain comes in to support Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero in attack, and Fernando Gago to support Javier Mascherano and Angel Di Maria in midfield.

"Sabella played down talk of a rift with Messi after the Barcelona star expressed his dislike for 5-3-2 and certainly this Argentina side look better balanced.

"Two British-based players start for Iran - Ashkan Dejagah of Fulham in support of Charlton striker Reza Ghoochannejad."

Former Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane
BBC Radio 5 live

"Big games in groups F and G. I'm predicting Argentina 4-0 Iran, Nigeria 1-3 Bosnia and Germany 3-1 Ghana."