ENGLAND's rivals Iran are in turmoil just five months before their World Cup meeting – with national coach Dragan Skocic reportedly close to the sack.
The Three Lions are due to kick off their Qatar quest against the Persian side on November 21 before facing the USA and Wales.
Croatian Skocic led Iran to the finals on the back of a record ten-game winning run.
But discontent with the 53-year-old has grown following defeats to South Korea and Algeria earlier this year.
And reports in Tehran claim the former Las Palmas midfielder had a furious 90-MINUTE row with acting Iran FA president Mirshad Majedi last week.
Talks are said to have begun on sacking Skocic and bringing back veteran boss Carlos Queiroz, 69.
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And the discussions are reported to have gone as high as to involve Iran's national president Ebrahim Raisi.
Sports minister Hamid Sajjadi, who is understood to favour Queiroz's reinstatement, is thought to have met with six senior players including ex-Brighton winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
Former Manchester United assistant manager Queiroz had eight years in charge of Team Melli before leaving in 2019.
Skocic coached four Iranian clubs before landing the national job in 2020.
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He previously managed teams in Croatia, Slovenia, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Iran's first game of the 2022 World Cup against England will be followed up by a clash with Wales on November 25.
They will then finish their group stage campaign against USA on November 29.
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