With 18 minutes played, Iran's Omid Ebrahimi had made just two touches, the fewest of any player so far; that's 25 fewer than Morocco's Medhi Benatia, who has made the most (27).

I doubt he's had many more since, with Morocco still dominant.

Iran do get into the opposition area finally, the ball played to Sardar Azmoun, who chests it down and hits it on the turn but can only fire it off square of the goal.

Image source, AFP

The ball spends its first extended period off the pitch as Iran delay a throw in, perhaps needing to get their breath back.

Some in the crowd might run out of breath soon too - a fair portion are blowing horns that sound worryingly like vuvuzelas.

Remember them? Yeah it's not the most pleasant sound.

Iran have a free-kick just inside the Morocco half and fire it in low to the penalty area.

But the Morocco defence are equal to it and clear.

Again Iran shape for the long throw but then take it short, flirting with the foul throw. It comes to nothing.

Image source, EPA

Out of nowhere Iran surge forward and forge a three on two opportunity.

But the man on the overlap plays a timid ball back across instead of shooting and Morocco mop up.

Chris Sutton
Ex-Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 live

Morocco should be in front but it's brilliant goalkeeping from Alireza Beiranvand. He just anticipated the strike and he pulls off a big save.

The corner comes to nothing much as Iran finally repel Morocco.

Image source, AFP

Morocco should perhaps have the lead.

The free-kick is drifted into towards the back post, is cracked across and the ball pings around with Belhanda having an effort blocked.

The rebound falls to Medhi Benatia, whose strike is well saved by Alireza Beiranvand, via a deflection by an Iranian boot.

It's out for a corner.

Morocco are unbeaten in their last 18 games, winning 14 of them. They look quite considerably better than Iran so far and you can see them causing Portugal and Spain problems.

Younes Belhanda again shakes off his man on the turn and is scythed down from behind. Vahid Amiri is very fortunate to avoid a yellow for that.

Morocco have a free-kick in a promising area.

Dearie me. Iran have a free-kick near their area and a chance to clear but then attempt a woeful cross-pitch pass that goes straight out for a throw.

This is attack versus defence so far.

Image source, Reuters

Chris Sutton
Ex-Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 live

That Morocco breakaway stemmed from good goalkeeping from Munir Mohamedi, and they look sharp going forward.

First slither of an opportunity for Iran as they have a throw near Morocco's area.

They shape for the long throw then take it short and the ball is whipped across but Morocco keeper Munir Mohamedi comes to claim...

...and then set up and lightning quick counter-attack that Iran just about get back in time to smother.

A tremendous pace being set by the Lions of the Atlas. (That's Morocco's nickname - you can have that in case it comes up in a pub quiz).

Iran captain Masoud Shojaei is the first man to enter the book with a late lunge in midfield.

Could be a few of those desperate tackles needed to stop Morocco here.

Image source, Getty Images

Morocco swing the ball forward from deep as Moubarak Boussoufa tries to surge in behind the Iran defence.

It's headed clear but falls to Ayoub El Kaabi, who stabs his effort not far wide of the left-hand post. Another chance for Morocco, who look very fluent early on.

Yohanne: So far Africa 0-1 Other Continents. Same story like the past 70 years.

Image source, AFP

Referee Cuneyt Cakir plays on and then calls it back for a foul by Rouzbeh Cheshmi on Morocco's Amine Harit.

That was late but Cheshmi avoids an early yellow card.

Harit was born in France - indeed just six of Morocco's 23-man World Cup squad were born in the country.

Chris Sutton
Ex-Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 live

I expected Morocco to try and dictate the game and come out of the traps quickly. For Iran, they will try and stay in the game and be dogged.

Image source, AFP

Iran eventually repel the second corner but Morocco come again, Nordin Amrabat skipping past his man down the right and putting the ball across but the header at the near post goes wide.

The African side are all over Iran in the early stages.

Ayoub El Kaabi runs down the left channel to get in behind the Iran defence and gets a deflection to win the first corner of the game.

Oh! The corner is played directly to Hakim Ziyech 16 yards out but the Morocco star man wafts his leg straight over it! He was completely free but missed it.

Morocco play the ball back in and Iran head it away for another corner.

Medhi Benatia sends a swinging pass out left, it's played back across and cleared unconvincingly by the Iranian defence...

...it falls to Younes Belhanda but he slices his volley wide right. Half a chance that.

And Morocco get us under way...

Image source, Reuters