Bigger pressure and challenge as Iran aim final four

Persianfootball.com – CANBERRA, Iran will need to show a further improved performance to get past a dangerous Iraqi side in their quarter-final in Canberra on Friday.

This might sound surprising, considering Iraq aren’t stronger in terms of individual quality than Iran’s group stage opposition and suffered a 1-0 defeat to Iran’s B team in a pre-Asian Cup friendly. However, while Carlos Queiroz so far cleverly managed to have every opponent play exactly the match Iran needs to be effective, Iraq might be much more reluctant to attack against Iran’s very hard to break defensive wall while thereby exposing the own defense.

Iraq, who had a dismal 2014 but went on to win two of their three group stage matches in 2015, might start play without out-of-form veteran striker Younis Mahmoud and instead opt for young MLS striker Justin Meram.

Swindon Town midfielder Yasser Kasim is slightly doubtful with a foot injury while Saad Abdul-Amir will be able to play with a face mask after suffering a nose injury.

Iraq, who had a day less rest than Iran, also didn’t have the most fortunate match preparations, having to cancel one training session due to bad weather conditions and not being able to conduct the final training in the official stadium. But the slight underdogs had the advantage of being able to stay in Canberra after playing their final group match there while Iran will play in that stadium for the first time in this competition.

Carlos Queiroz on the other hand will most likely return to his strongest starting lineup after having rested four players in the 1-0 win over the UAE. With no reported injuries, the only really disputed slot is the sole striking position, in which Reza Ghoochannejhad might replace shooting-star Sardar Azmoun.

Both sides have four players on yellow cards who are therefore endangered to miss the semi-final clash if going into the referees book again. Referee will be Australian Ben Williams, who had been critisized by Queiroz after Iran’s opener versus Bahrain.

Iran will play in white, Iraq in green infront of a big audience, as the many expatriats from either side will pack the stands.

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