SM
Inter Milan vs. Como: 16 hrs 19 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
IN
World Cup Qualifying - Asia | Third Round
Feb 1, 2022 at 2.30pm UK
Azadi Stadium, Tehran
UA

Iran
1 - 0
UAE

Taremi (44')
Ezatolahi (23'), Moharrami (38'), Jahanbakhsh (84')
Moharrami (49')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Alzaabi (84'), Ramadan (90+2')

Preview: Iran vs. United Arab Emirates - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Iran vs. United Arab Emirates - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Iran and United Arab Emirates, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Fresh off the back of clinching qualification for the 2022 World Cup, Iran play hosts to United Arab Emirates at the Azadi Soccer Field on Tuesday.

The visitors are currently in the qualification playoff spot as they occupy third place in Group A after picking up nine points from seven games.


Match preview

Iran confirmed their place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this year when they claimed a hard-earned 1-0 victory over rivals Iraq in Tehran last Thursday.

After failing to tuck home several clear-cut scoring chances in the first half, 29-year-old forward Mehdi Taremi came up trumps for Team Melli as he found the target three minutes after the interval to condemn the visitors to their third group defeat.

Dragan Skocic's men have enjoyed a sensational qualifying journey, winning six and playing out one draw to collect 19 points and sit at the summit of Group A with a two-point lead over second-placed South Korea.

Iran also head into Tuesday's game unbeaten in each of their last 14 outings, picking up an impressive 13 wins and one draw since a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Iraq in the second round of World Cup qualifying games back in 2019.

This run has been down to their sensational job done at both ends of the pitch as they have scored 36 goals since that defeat, while shipping just four and keeping 10 clean sheets in that time.

With their place in Qatar confirmed, Iran will now begin laying the building blocks as they look to surpass their run in Russia four years ago, where they crashed out in the group stages after finishing third in Group B with four points from three games.

United Arab Emirates, on the other hand, made it two wins from two World Cup qualifying games last time out when they saw off a struggling Syria side 2-0 on home turf.

In a thrilling contest at the Al-Maktoum Stadium, Caio Canedo put UAE ahead on the stroke of half time before substitute Yahya Alghassani made sure of the result almost immediately after replacing Khalil Ibrahim in the 69th minute.

Prior to that, the Whites picked up six points from three games to finish second in Group B of the Arab Cup before suffering a humbling 5-0 defeat at the hands of Qatar in the knockout stages back in December.

Having struggled to impose themselves in the qualifiers so far, the win over Syria saw United Arab Emirates strengthen their position in the qualification playoff spot as they have now picked up nine points from seven games to sit third in the table with a healthy four-point lead over fourth-place Lebanon.

With just three games left to play, Bert van Marwijk's side know more dropped points could thwart their chances of ending their two-decade absence and returning to the biggest stage of world football.

However, next up is the daunting task of going up against a rampant Iran side who they have failed to defeat in the last seven meetings between the teams since 2008, losing five and managing two draws in that time.

United Arab Emirates' last and only World Cup appearance came back in 1990 when they were sent packing in the group stage after losing all three games to finish rock bottom in Group D.

Iran World Cup Qualifying - Asia form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W

United Arab Emirates World Cup Qualifying - Asia form:
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W

United Arab Emirates form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W


Team News

On the back of booking their ticket to the Finals in Qatar, Skocic could hand starting opportunities to a few fringe players with regulars like Shoja Khalilzadeh and Saeid Ezatolahi dropping to the substitutes' bench.

Siavash Yazdani, who was recently called up to the squad, could be handed his debut and team up with Hossein Kanaani at the heart of the defence.

Taremi has been a star performer for Iran, netting five goals in nine World Cup qualifying games, and we expect the Porto forward to lead the attack once again.

Meanwhile, Van Marwijk could put out a familiar starting side on Tuesday following his side's dominant display in last Thursday's 2-0 victory over Syria.

Alghassani staked his claim for a starting role after finding the target one minute off the bench in the aforementioned game and the 23-year-old could team up with Canedo in attack.

Iran possible starting lineup:
Abedzadeh; Moharrami, Yazdani, Kanani, Noorafkan; Sarlak, Ezatolahi, Ghoddos; Gholizadeh, Amiri; Taremi

United Arab Emirates possible starting lineup:
Khasif; Khamees, Abbas, Al-Attas, Al Hammadi; Salmeen, Ramadan, Alzaabi, Saleh; Canedo, Alghassani


We say: Iran 2-0 United Arab Emirates

Iran head into Tuesday's game in superb form, dropping points just once in their last 14 games across all competitions. UAE picked up a morale-boosting win last time out and will look to keep the momentum going. While the hosts have already booked their place in Qatar, we predict they will continue their fine run in the group and come away with all three points.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data



body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__476715 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 12:58:34:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 12:58:34 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Reading loan Iran international
Man United's Marcus Rashford replacement likely to leave the club in January?
Rashford's future 'takes a fresh twist' as 'new favourite' for Man United star 'emerges'
Two birds, one transfer: Spurs eye 'dual benefit' January deal for Dortmund star
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Pep Guardiola to dig into war chest and sign £80m rated attacker for Man City?

1

PG

Amorim Vs Arteta: Manchester United to battle Arsenal for star forward?

2

AV

Man United's Marcus Rashford replacement likely to leave the club in January?

3

MU

Two Arsenal, two Liverpool: Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

4

TA

Top Premier League goalscorers of all time

5

TP

'Everton draw better than Brentford win': Maresca delighted with Toffees stalemate

6

'D

Kylian is back: Mbappe shines as Real Madrid beat Sevilla in six-goal thriller at Bernabeu

7

KI

A favour from an enemy: Liverpool receive huge title boost as Everton hold Chelsea

8

AF

Following in Sinner's footsteps: Next Gen ATP Finals champion crowned!

9

FI

Preview: Oman vs. Qatar - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PO


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .