The first phase of the Soccer World Cup 2022 hosted in Qatar is well underway. So far, there have already been quite a few upsets in the tournaments, as well as a few memorable matches. Now, the pressure is really on as the last few matches start to determine who’ll be going through to the next phase: the round of 16. In this evening’s match-up, we see the USA take on Iran in a make-or-break match for the stars and stripes.
This match places an immense amount of pressure on the USA team, whose dreams of progressing in the competition hinge on today’s outcome. For the USA team, the goal is simple. If they want to progress to the round of 16, they need to win in this next match against Iran. Nothing besides a draw will do for this team.
Iran, on the other hand, has a slightly more complex requirement from this match. If they win against the USA, they’ll be certain to move on to the next phase. Even if they receive a draw, their chances of continuing to the next round will be determined by the outcome of the Wales vs. England match. The only way Iran would be out of the group of 16 is if they draw their match against Iran, and Wales beats England with at least four goals.
However, the US is well known for scoring when the tensions are at their highest. This is evident from the spectacular victory in the 2010 World Cup against Algeria. The US team also looks to be in good shape for the next match, with no reported injuries or benching of key players.
Alternatively, Iran’s team faces some health concerns. One of the attackers, Sardar Azmoun, is of particular worry. This key attacker raced back to the game after a serious calf injury. Although he was brought on in the game against England, he was substituted midway through the second half. The goalkeeper, Alireza Beiranvand, is also said to return to this game after recovering from a concussion. The Iran winger, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, is also benched for this game due to yellow card accumulation.
The USA and Iran have squared off in the past. The first time was during the FIFA World Cup group stages in 1998, when Iran came out victorious with a 2-1 win. Later they had another opportunity to compete against each other in an International Friendly which resulted in a 1-1 draw.
The USA has put up an impressive performance so far in this World Cup. While the draw against Wales was disappointing, they managed to earn a draw against England – which has a strong team this year. They’re a team that has strong attacking power and loves to have control over the ball. In their match against Wales, they maintained 59% possession, and against England, 44% possession. Their team has also shown a solid defensive strategy.
We’ve seen Iran struggle against a serious attacking team when they lost to England in their opening match with 2-6 goals. This means the USA has a good chance if Christian Pulisic can get right in front of the goals. But who do prediction apps believe will win this game between the USA and Iran?
Competition predictor apps like BetMGM and FootballPredictions have calculated and predicted that Iran would win 1-0 with 47% confidence and a 29% chance of a draw. However, this is not the thought that many news presenters share. According to the bulk of these sources, such as Jimmy Conrad and Stu Holden, Fox Soccer presenters, and former players, the USA is the fan favorite to win. However, whether they’ll make it through the round of 16 remains to be seen as machines make competition predictions.
There is still so much to happen, and many of the groups are still wide open. However, in the case of this match between the USA and Iran, it’s the last chance for the USA to cement their spot in the group of 16. Only a win will do for them, so let’s hope their team can keep a clear head. Either way, with so much on the line, it should be a good game with lots of excitement.
Whether you’re monitoring the games through essential apps or streaming them live using a high-quality VPN, this will be a game you don’t want to miss. Get the popcorn and drinks ready as we wait for the results of this match. Will the predictor apps be right? Or does it take a bit more experience rather than machine learning for a proper prediction?
Let’s wait and see who’s closer, news and sports presenters or predictor apps. If you’re looking for more ways to enjoy the World Cup, why not check out these football games to keep the entertainment going between matches?
