Iran and UAE meet in group C cracker

Persianfootball.com – BRISBANE, Iran will have to be careful about UAE’s attacking trio, when they will undoubtedly aim to snatch three points and the top spot of group C from their Persian Gulf neighbours, who lead on goal difference.

With either side having secured their slot among the best eight, occupying that top spot is more about avoiding Japan than prestige, although the title holders and strong tournament favourites are neither certain group winners nor qualified for quarter finals yet.

UAE, led by former Olympic team coach Mahdi Ali, have developed into a formidable side, led by the inspiring Yemeni-born playmaker Omar Abdulrahman, who usually sets up strikers Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil. The striking duo was responsible for all five goals of the UAE so far, with Abdulrahman havin directly assisted two.

Although Iran’s overall quality certainly is no short of their opponents’, Iran Carlos Queiroz does not believe his side are favourites in Brisbane on Monday, calling the UAE “the best team in West Asia” in the official pre-match conference – a statement most Iranian fans can live with well, considering Iran has switched from the West Asian to the Central Asian football federation within the AFC last year.

Poor pitch, controversial referee and smaller injuries

But not only the quality of the opposition is slightly worrying for Iran, who will play in all-white versus all-red UAE.

The playing surface in Brisbane is arguably the worst in the competition and although the pitch will be renewed, this won’t happen before Iran’s match and so both sides will meet on a rather bumpy field.

No more professional impression made the AFC’s refereeing selection for the match, as Japanese Sato will lead the match, a circumstance unthinkable in European football where having a referee from the country that will next meet one of the two sides is of course unthinkable.

Despite Sardar Azmoun, Andranik Teymourian and Khosro Heydari having returned from smaller injuries, Queiroz pointed out that Team Melli have “a couple of knocks” and that he therefore might have to perform one or the other change in the lineup on Monday.

Should everyone be fit and ready, no changes to the previous lineup are expected.

Iran’s possible lineup: Haghighi – Ghafouri, Hosseini, Pouraliganji, Pouladi – Nekounam – Dejagah, Teymourian, Shojaei, Hajsafi – Azmoun