Tournament: World Cup Qualification AFC
Date & Kick-Off Time: 2024.09.05, 12:00
In the opening round of the AFC World Cup Qualification, Iran will face Kyrgyzstan on September 5, 2024. While Iran is expected to dominate as one of the top teams in Asian football, Kyrgyzstan has been steadily improving and could put up a stronger fight than anticipated.
Key Statistics and Trends
- Iran: Has only failed to win four matches since March 2023, with just one loss.
- Kyrgyzstan: Unbeaten in their last five matches.
- Home Form: Iran is unbeaten in their last eight home games.
- First-Half Performance: Iran wins the first half in 72% of their matches, while Kyrgyzstan does so in 28%.
Possible Line-Ups
Iran:
- Goalkeeper: Beiranvand
- Defenders: Mohammadi, Kanaani-Zadegan, Khalilzadeh, Hardeeni
- Midfielders: Ghoddos, Taremi, Jahanbakhsh, Nourafkan
- Forwards: Torabi, Azmoun
Kyrgyzstan:
- Goalkeeper: Tokotaev
- Defenders: Shamurzaev, Kichin, Kozubaev, Zaripbekov, Jyrgalbek-Uulu
- Midfielders: Alykulov, Shukurov, Abdurahmanov, Akhmedov
- Forward: Kojo
Head-to-Head Matches
Iran has historically dominated Kyrgyzstan, winning all four previous encounters between the two teams.
Team Overview and Form
Iran ("The Princes of Persia"):
Iran has long been a powerhouse in Asian football, qualifying for six World Cups, including the last three. While they have yet to progress beyond the group stage, they consistently perform well in international competitions. After a semifinal appearance in the Asian Cup in Qatar, where they narrowly lost 2-3 to the hosts, Iran enters this World Cup qualification campaign as one of the favorites to advance.
Kyrgyzstan ("The White Falcons"):
Kyrgyzstan has shown steady improvement in recent years, qualifying for the Asian Cup for the first time in 2019. In this year’s Asian Cup, they managed to earn a point in a draw with Oman but lost to Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Despite these setbacks, Kyrgyzstan has gained momentum in World Cup qualifying, securing key results against Taiwan, Oman, and Malaysia to advance to this stage.
Tactical Analysis and Predictions
- Iran: Led by Taremi and Azmoun in attack, Iran will likely control possession and look to break down Kyrgyzstan's defense with their fluid attacking play. Their strong home form and attacking depth should give them the upper hand.
- Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyzstan will look to remain compact defensively, relying on counters through players like Alykulov and Kojo. While they are likely to struggle against Iran's quality, they have shown resilience in recent matches.
Betting Prediction
Iran is expected to win comfortably, but Kyrgyzstan’s recent form suggests they won’t be completely overrun. A Kyrgyzstan win with a handicap of +3 goals is a reasonable bet, with odds of 1.63.
Prediction: Kyrgyzstan to win with a +3 goals handicap (odds: 1.63).
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