Wales vs Iran: Focus on Bale in crucial clash with Team Melli
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World Cup 2022: Wales vs Iran odds, preview and tips
Wales are still in with a chance of making it to the knockout stage of the World Cup as they take on Iran in their second Group B game on Friday.
Gareth Bale proved to be the Dragons’ saviour once again as the late penalty he had won secured a 1-1 draw against the USA on Monday night and they are 11/10 favourites in the Wales winning odds to beat 27/10 shots Iran, who were hammered by England in their opening game of the tournament.
Wales vs Iran form
The Welsh are competing in their first World Cup finals in 64 years, but their hopes of reaching the round of 16 were looking bleak when Tim Weah latched on to a superb Christian Pulisic through-ball to give the USA a deserved half-time lead.
However, the Dragons looked a different side in the second half when Kieffer Moore replaced the ineffectual Dan James in a tactical switch.
Wales boss Robert Page said: “I take responsibility for that. I thought the way they played in the past, we could play through the middle and play beyond their front three when they press. They changed the press. We didn’t get any of the players on the ball and we were getting wave after wave of attack. He (Moore) made a massive difference for us.”
❤️🏴#ArBenYByd | #FIFAWorldCup | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/ctoKMHz77f
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 21, 2022
Moore is likely to start on Friday when Wales look an interesting prospect at 4/1 to win and concede against an Iranian team that scored twice against England, albeit one came from the penalty spot. Both teams to score is available at 21/20 in our Wales vs Iran betting tips.
Team Melli, 20th in the world rankings, are renowned for being hard to beat, but they were on the back foot from the start against England who blew their opponents away with three goals in 10 minutes before the break.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz said: “Being 3-0 down, the only goal for our team was to enjoy the game and… be brave, united, fighting and try to play our football in moments that England allowed us to do that. We had the privilege to learn a lot of things with the English team and we are much better prepared now to play against Wales.”
An even first half looks short at 20/23, with 5/4 on a goalless opening 45 minutes or Draw HT/Wales FT looking better options at 18/5 in the World Cup betting.
The teams are next to each other in the world rankings and are 21/10 to draw, while goals thrown into the equation can be backed at 7/2.
Wales vs Iran head to head
The teams have met just once before, a friendly in the build-up to the 1978 World Cup which Wales won 1-0 in Tehran.
Prior to the heavy defeat by England, matches involving Iran had been relatively low-scoring affairs, but Wales are available at 29/20 to score at least twice.
Wales vs Iran team news
Joe Allen has been declared fit for Friday’s game. The 72-times capped Swansea midfielder has not played since damaging a hamstring on September 17 and missed Monday’s draw against the United States.
Wales manager Robert Page said: “We’ve got a few tired bodies. We had a few go down with cramp. Joe Allen got through his fitness test. He’s fit and raring to go. We’ve got a decision to make on that. Everybody else is fighting fit.”
What’s going on here 🤔😆#ArBenYByd pic.twitter.com/fMdHvQY853
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 23, 2022
Bale had a few injury issues going into the tournament but Page is confident he can play another 90 minutes on Friday and has not thought about resting the Los Angeles FC forward, who will become the most-capped player in Welsh history if he plays on Friday.
Page said: “Good luck not picking him. He’ll be ready come the time of that game. He stepped up and scored the penalty. He deserves all the credit he gets, because when you need him he delivers.”
Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand suffered a head injury following a collision with one of his defenders in the first half against England and although he soldiered on initially, he was eventually carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Hossein Hosseini.
Goalscorer odds
Bale’s record of scoring crucial goals means he is the 10/3 favourite to break the deadlock or 7/5 in the anytime market, although Moore should certainly be considered.
The Bournemouth striker helped bring a focal point to Wales’ attack in the second half, linking up play and proving a threat at set-pieces, so he looks a good shout at 4/1 and 9/5 in the two options.
👋🤝👋#ArBenYByd | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/1nlq4BHAXR
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 24, 2022
Ben Davies nearly scored with a diving header which was tipped over by Matt Turner and in the World Cup odds the Tottenham defender is 50/1 to bag the opener or 22/1 to find the net.
Porto forward Mehdi Taremi scored both of Iran’s goals against England and looks a decent prospect at 5/1 to draw first blood or 9/4 to find the net, the same odds as Sardour Azmoun who was an injury doubt before the game but came on in the second half.
Match Info
Where: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
When: 10:00, Friday 25th November
How to watch: BBC
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
