Wales vs Iran prediction: WORLD: World Cup betting tips on match 2022-11-24 10:00.
Rob Page will be hoping he doesn’t have to give his Wales side another half-time dressing down as they search for a first win at the World Cup finals since 1958. The Dragons earned a draw in their opening group game against the USA thanks to Gareth Bale’s late penalty, but the goal hero admitted the players “were torn up by the gaffer” at the break after a dismal opening 45 minutes in which they were dominated by their opponents.
Whilst Page will have been pleased with the second-half display, that 1-1 result means Wales are now without a win in six matches (D2, L4), their worst run since losing half a dozen games in a row between 2010 and 2011. Wales will be desperate to end that winless run here and set themselves up for their final group game and a chance of qualification when they play old foes England, who could end up resting players if they beat the USA in the late Friday game.
Iran on the other hand have just played England and suffered their heaviest World Cup defeat, a 6-2 drubbing. Their players still earned respect from across the globe though, after bravely refusing to sing their national anthem in protest at harrowing events taking place back home. In terms of on the field issues, it was a rare loss for Carlos Queiroz’s side, who can still boast a record of having won 12 of their last 15 competitive fixtures (D1, L2).
The manager may still opt to ring the changes though, and one option for him is Vahid Amiri, who was an unused substitute. The Trabzonspor midfielder is Iran’s oldest player at 34, but he was still born ten years after the only previous H2H meeting between these two countries, which Wales won 1-0 in Tehran in 1978. If selected, Amiri will be hoping to improve Iran’s dreadful World Cup record of just two victories from 16 outings (D4, L10), 13 of which saw them concede the first goal!
Players to watch: Bale’s goal against the USA was his fourth in a major tournament for Wales and means he has scored five times in his last nine games for his country. Meanwhile, Mehdi Taremi’s brace against England moved the Iran striker onto 13 goals for club and country this season, with eight of his nine goalscoring appearances being the first or last of the game.
Hot stat: Wales are unbeaten in their last six games against teams from outside of Europe (W2, D4).
World Cup trivia: Wales’ 64-year gap between their first and second appearances at the World Cup finals is the longest of any nation.