Wales – Iran

Wales will not have significant advantage over Iran

On Friday 25 November, the Welsh team will face Iran. The match is crucial for the two teams in terms of making the playoffs. A defeat almost eliminates any chance of progression. The Iranian national side suffered a shocking defeat in their first game against England. In the meantime, they cannot draw any global conclusions from that game. The difference in class is too big. The English team had a near-perfect encounter. Plus, Iran were affected by the injury of their main goalkeeper. Carlos Keiruş's men remain one of the best teams in Asia. It's hard to imagine another failure like that being possible. On the positive side in the game against England, Taremi, the main forward, scored a brace. The forward has gained confidence and can now reveal himself in a new way against the Welsh. There could be some support from Serdar Azmoun. It was initially planned that the player would pick up his form over the course of the tournament. In the encounter with England, he appeared only as a substitute. Iran's defence should also play much better. Wales secured a historic draw with the USA in the first meeting. The Welsh had a statistical advantage over the Americans. The team approached the World Cup in fighting form. That said, the team's potential is severely limited. Wales operate on the scheme with five defenders in a rather closed manner. Positional attacking is the weak point for the Welsh squad. Much still rests on the link-up between Bale and Ramsey. The two veterans are long past their peak. It is possible that the first game will still be the best quality of play for the Welsh team. The physical advantage should be with Iran. If you compare the depth of the squads, the opponents are roughly equal on this point. The bookmakers have Wales as the clear favourite. The reverse is not out of the question. Iran will need to pull themselves together after a heavy defeat. The team doesn't look any weaker than the Welsh. Plus it will be relatively easier for Iran to operate on the counter-attack. Wales have trouble playing at number one. It's been a long time since the ageing leaders have played several games a week at a high level. A slump is very likely. From a tournament point of view, a draw leaves the two teams with a chance. The risks will be minimal. The teams will not reveal themselves in the end in such an eventuality. The match is another contender for a nil draw. Another factor is the hot and stuffy weather. Both teams are old enough. The climatic conditions are also not conducive to a very intense encounter.