Diego Costa gives Spain crucial win over doughty Iran

Diego Costa's knee snatched Spain victory in a wild game in Rostov. A draw against Morocco will be enough to take them into the last 16, while Iran - who performed brilliantly - must now beat Portugal to progress. Whatever you've got planned for Monday night, cancel it.

It took Spain the entirety of the first half to come to terms with Iran's defensive zealotry; space was restricted and constricted, but with unusual fury, speed and aggression. Spain simply could not move the ball quickly enough to get around the back or between the men, and as such created very little.

But after half-time Spain did a better job of keeping the width, and the goal, scored on 55 minutes when Ramin Rezaeian poked the ball against Diego Costa, had been coming.

Iran, though, did not lie down as other teams have done in this World Cup, instead laying into Spain with everything they had. And, on 62 minutes, Saeid Ezatolahi drove the ball home after a free-kick, the celebrations continuing though the flag was up for offside. After some confusion, VAR was consulted, upheld the original decision, and play eventually resumed.

Iran did make a further good chance, Mehdi Taremi heading just over, but Spain - who will know and feel like they were in game - hung on.

What does Lucas Vazquez do? Spain lack width - Spain have often lacked width - but no longer have a midfield able to prevent opponents from having the ball, so need to score more goals. As such, the omission of Marco Asensio for Lucas Vazquez, especially against inferior teams, makes very little sense. Vazquez runs about a lot, but doesn't have the skill to beat his man with any regularity, and is far less of a goal threat too.

Majid Hosseini (Iran) This could have gone to any member of Iran's defence, but it was Hosseini who always seemed to be in the way at the crucial moment.

Iran: Beiranvand 7, Ramin 8, Hosseini 8, Pouraliganji 7, Haji Safi 8, Ezatolahi 7, Omid 7, Karim 6, Mehdi 7, Amiri 7, Azmoun 8. Subs: Mohammadi 6, Jahanbakhsh 6, Ghoddos 6.

Spain: De Gea 6, Carvajal 7, Pique 6, Ramos 6, Alba 5, Iniesta 5, Busquets 6, Silva 5, Isco 7, Lucas Vazquez 5, Costa 7. Subs: Koke 6, Asensio 6, Rodrigo 6.

45+2’ - First sight of goal for Spain! Lovely ball from Isco finds Carvajal, just on the edge of the box, and he lays back for Silva who thinks he's got a sight of goal so drives hard ... but again a leg appears from nowhere to deflect the ball off target.

53’ - OH MY DAYS! Iran win a throw deep inside the Spain half and Pique nods down ... but only as far as Haji Safi, who murders what looks like a brilliant finish into the back of the net ... but it's the side-netting!

55’ - GOAL! Iran 0-1 Spain (Costa) Silva drives at the Iran defence and feeds Costa who, back to goal, swivels with the ball as Ramin comes in, deflects the ball back against Costa and the ball shoots past Beiranvand! A classic Costa finish!

62’ - GOAL! Iran 1-1 Spain (Ezatolahi) The free-kick is curled in nastily, a scramble, a drive into the net, and we're checking VAR to see if the decision to disallow it for offside is correct....

64’ - NO GOAL! Iran 0-1 Spain It's hard to know what happened there, perhaps offside, perhaps handball, perhaps a foul. All looked possible to me. .. it’s offside.

82’ - Oh my! Amiri megs Pique down the left and delivers a luscious cross but one hit with just too much pace, so Mehdi can't get above it ... he makes a great connection, but smashes his header just over the bar.

All three games today ended 1-0. That has only happened twice before in World Cup history.

Diego Costa has scored with all three of shots on target in this World Cup.