If Morroco and Iran want to increase their low odds of qualifying for the knockout phase of the 2018 World Cup, they will need to win this match. A draw suits no one.
At 17:00 o’clock, Morocco and Iran will meet for the first time in a competitive match at Zenit’s Krestovsky Stadium in St. Petersburg. It will be a meeting of opposites, as Iran’s formidable defence (conceded only two goals in Asian qualifiers) takes on Morocco’s bevy of talented individuals. Knowing that clashes with Spain and Portugal are next on their schedules, these two teams must not be satisfied with a draw if they have any aspirations of moving past the group stage.
After topping African qualifying Group C with 3 wins, 3 draws and an 11:0 goal difference, Morocco went on to win the 2018 African Nations Championship by demolishing Nigeria 4-0. The last time Herve Renard’s squad lost a competitive fixture was in June 2017. Other than Ukraine (0-0), it defeated all of its preparation friendly opponents, including Serbia and Slovakia. It is a team that’s flying high at the moment and will represent a delicate adversary for the two group favorites. But before that, there’s Iran, a team that left Brazil with a goal and a point four years ago.
Carlos Queiroz dictates a defense-first mentality, so we can expect Iran matches to be rather tedious affairs. Players like Rubin Kazan’s Sardar Azmoun and AZ Alkmaar’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Dutch Eredivisie’s top scorer, could spice things up for Team Melli. They’re two highly-skilled forwards who have the capability to put Iran on top. Considering how well the players from the squad know each other, it’ll be a daunting task for foes to turn matches around against Iran if they go down a goal (Morocco Included).
Nevertheless, I anticipate The Atlas Lions’ overall quality to prevail. In the two emerging young stars Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) and Amine Harit (Schalke), they have two players who can capture the moment and find holes in that Iran defence. Real Madrid’s Achraf Hakimi earned valuable experience this past season and his forward runs from the right back position could cause a lot of problems for the Asians as well. Juventus’ Mehdi Benatia is the center piece of a steady defensive unit. I’ll personally be rooting for football in this one, so I hope Morocco strikes first.
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