The Green Falcons opened their campaign with a 5-0 defeat to hosts Russia, and despite showing improvement, they fell 1-0 to Uruguay in their second match.

“We may not have done enough to get the result we wanted but we had lots of the ball (possession) and we circulated it well,” said the 50-year-old Argentinian coach.

"We imposed ourselves on the game against Uruguay.

“The goal we conceded was unfortunate, but we didn’t have the tools they had. We couldn’t equalise, but we controlled the play. We didn’t suffer.”

Following the 5-0 defeat by Russia in the opening match, Juan Antonio Pizzi made four changes to his starting line up, bringing on goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais for Abdullah Al Mayouf, centre-back Ali Al Bulaihi for Omar Hawsawi, winger Hattan Bahebri for Yahya Al Shehri and striker Fahad Al Muwallad for Mohammed Al Sahlawi.

The changes produced a much-improved performance from Saudi Arabia as a solitary Luis Suarez strike was the difference at the final whistle.

Uruguay booked their place in the knockout stage along with Russia, as Luis Suarez scored the winner on his 100th international appearance.

The 31-year-old Suarez, whose previous two World Cups both ended in bans after his infamous 2010 handball against Ghana and bite on Italy's Giorgio Chiellini four years later, took advantage of a goalkeeping error by Mohammed Al Owais to put Uruguay ahead midway through the first half.

Diego Costa’s fortuitous goal nine minutes into the second half was all that separated the sides at Kazan Arena and the loss leaves Ansarfiard and his teammates needing to win their final game against Portugal to secure a place in the Round of 16.

Iran have never progressed beyond the group stages in any of their previous four appearances at the FIFA World Cup, with the Carlos Queiroz-coached team also falling short in Brazil four years ago.

But, with Iran only one point behind the Portuguese in Group B after two rounds of matches, the versatile Olympiacos star is confident Team Melli can find a way past Cristiano Ronaldo and company in Kaliningrad next week.

Australia captain Mile Jedinak hit a second-half VAR-assisted penalty to earn the Socceroos' first point in Russia after Christian Eriksen's opener, giving Australia a glimmer of hope of reaching the Round of 16.

Van Marwijk praised a team that has "improved every day" but bemoaned a lack of clinical finishing after his team missed chances to win the game in the second half in Samara.

It followed a 2-1 defeat to France in their opening match.

Korea Republic and Mexico will face off at Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don on Saturday. 

Following their 1-0 defeat to Sweden in their Group F opener at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Monday, Korea Republic need a turnaround to stay alive for Round of 16 contention.

Mexico, meanwhile, will be on a high after stunning defending champions Germany 1-0 in their opening match.

Team Melli currently sit third in the Group B standings, just one point below Portugal and Spain who are on four points, setting up a decisive final group stage match up with the Portuguese on June 25 at the Mordovia Arena.

“We showed that we were ready to suffer and ready to compete,” Queiroz said.

“I felt we deserved a better result. There’s no doubt Spain play wonderful, stylish football but I thought we deserved more for the way we played.”