On Wednesday afternoon, holders Qatar face Iran in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup, as the two teams eye a place in Asian football’s premium international tournament.
Amir Ghalenoei’s team have looked strong so far in the competition.
Proud Moments 📸 🇶🇦❤️ #AlAnnabi #WinAsOne#AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/qM8cEfV1o5— Qatar Football Association (@QFA_EN) February 3, 2024
Proud Moments 📸 🇶🇦❤️ #AlAnnabi #WinAsOne#AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/qM8cEfV1o5
After winning all their group games against Palestine, Hong Kong and UAE, Iran has beaten Syria on penalties and also defeated Japan 2-1 to book their place in the last four.
Their recent international outings have been relatively high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in ten of their previous 12 games.
Iran has been difficult to beat in the Asian Cup, as the three-time winners have lost just once in 90 minutes in their 29 games in the competition.
A key to their more recent form has been Iran’s attacking prowess, as they have now scored at least two goals in five of their previous eight games in the Asian Cup.
Tintin Martinez’s team are looking to retain the Asian Cup after their triumph in the 2019 edition of the competition.
They had never won the competition before 2019, so it would be an impressive feat to win it back-to-back.
Qatar enjoyed a strong group campaign, seeing off Lebanon, Tajikistan and China.
They also dispatched Palestine in the last 16 2-1 before a shoot-kick win over Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals.
Their performance in the current competition is very much in keeping with their displays in the 2019 edition, as they now head into this clash on the back of a 12-game unbeaten run in the Asian Cup.
They have won 11 of those 12 unbeaten games over 90 minutes and one in extra-time.
Forebet predicts Iran will come out on top in a relatively low-scoring encounter to book their place in the competition's final.