Thanks to a 1-0 victory over holders Australia, the Asia Cup hosts from the United Arab Emirates are still allowed to dream of the finals in front of their own audience. In the semi-final, the host of the Asian Cup will meet host of the World Cup, Qatar. However, the first finalist will be determined 24 hours earlier. In Abu Dhabi, the two big favorites from Iran and Japan face each other.
The two World Cup participants from Asia were able to underpin their role as favorites in the previous competition and were no nakedness on the way to this semi-final. Iran only drew against the group in the group stage and won the remaining four games confidently. Even better read the statistics of Japan, who won all five games in the previous competition. Nonetheless, Japan has acted as outsider to bookmakers. Odds in the range of 2.20 are offered for a victory of Iran against Japan. The game starts on Monday at 3 pm Central European Time.
At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the “Team Melli” – one of the nicknames for Iran – had to travel home after the group stage. Disappointing was the finals in Russia but not at all, because Iran knew how to convince with strong performances and had definitely earned a ticket to the knockout phase. In the death group with European champions Portugal and Spain as well as Morocco, the knockout phase was missed only gossamer. The cheetahs from Asia presented themselves strong as a bear and accordingly the expectation before the Asian Cup 2019. The first title win in 42 years is targeted and so far, the team of the Portuguese head coach Carlos Queiroz could substantiate this role. It would be the fourth Asian Cup title, the first three title wins were hailed between 1968 and 1976.
Before the start of the tournament Queiroz described the semi-finals as a dream for Iranian football, the bookmakers have the team Melli before the tournament according to ratings acted as the big favorites. In Russia, Iran impressed with a strong defensive and quick transfer play. In the United Arab Emirates, on the other hand, Iran has to shape the game. The balance between offensive and defensive is impressive. Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand – already strong at the World Cup – has not suffered a single goal in the tournament so far. Attacking already scored a dozen goals. In the two knockout games Oman (2-0) and China (3-0) were not a real yardstick. With Alireza Jahanbaksh, Sardar Azmound and Saman Ghododos, Iran have a strong offensive trio. Due to the previous performances in the competition between Iran and Japan a tip on winning the favorite is quite an interesting option.
An advantage for Iran in the semi-final against Japan will certainly be the support in the stands. In Abu Dhabi, many exiled Iranians live and, accordingly, well-filled with fans of the “Team Melli”, Iran will be pushed forward.
Expected formation of Iran:
Alireza Beiranvand – Mohammadi, Hossein Kanaani, Pouraliganji, Rezaeian – Ebrahimi – Taremi, Dejagah, Hajsafi, Jahanbaksh – Azmoun
Last matches from Iran:
In the recent past, Japan has reinforced its role as the best Asian team at the Asian Cup several times. In 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011, the team “Nippon” secured the title. Four of the last seven Asian Championships thus decided the current number 50 in the FIFA World Ranking in their favor. Also in the 2018 World Cup Japan survived the preliminary round and lost in a dramatic round of 16 against the late semi-finalist Belgium gossamer after a 2-0 lead by a counterattack in added time.
Japan traveled without much expectation to Russia, because in the run-up to the World Cup many disappointments had to be accepted. Despite the passable performance, after the World Cup a change of coach has been made and since then Hajime Moriyasu is responsible for his home country. In ten international matches under his wing, Japan has a nearly pure white vest. Nine games were won, only in the friendly match against Venezuela in November 2018, the Asians had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
At the previous Asian Cup Japan celebrated five wins, but these were all extremely close, because in no game Japan prevailed with two or more goals difference. The quarterfinal against Underdog Vietnam was also an absolute nerve battle. Netherlands legionnaire Ritsu Doan scored the only goal with a penalty. Was preceded by a controversial penalty, which was given only after the aid of video evidence. Doan, also the fouled player, however, kept his nerves.
With five wins in the previous competition, the self-confidence is great. The lack of big stars like Shinji Kagawa, Shinji Okazaki or the up-and-coming Shoya Nakajima has been well compensated so far. In the knockout phase, Japan have also presented themselves with a very solid defense and goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda has not conceded a goal against both Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. The duel of the two top favorites is therefore also a game of two very strong defensive series. Instead of making a prediction on the three-way market in the game between Iran and Japan, betting that both teams will not score is also a very interesting option.
Expected formation of Japan:
Gonda – Nagatomo, Tomiyasu, Yoshida, Sakai – Endo, Shibasaki – Haraguchi, Minamino, Doan – Kitagawa
Last Games from Japan:
18 international matches have been played between Iran and Japan. Eleven of these 18 games were only friendlies. In the seven previous competitive games Japan has the nose very thin front. Nippon won three games, two games ended in a draw and Iran celebrated a win twice. However, one of the indicators for the duel on Monday afternoon was not one of these games, as the last competitive match took place in the course of the World Cup qualifiers for the 2006 finals. The last friendly match was played in October 2015, in Tehran was in the game between Iran and Japan, the tip on the draw successful.
Before the tournament, Iran and Japan were considered the big favorites to win the title, so the semi-final between these two teams will be an anticipated final. The results so far were convincing for both teams. There will certainly be no lack of self-confidence. In the first semi-final between Iran and Japan, Tipp on the three-way market turns out to be extremely difficult, because Japan certainly has the quality to be dangerous to the favored Iran. Value can not be recognized by the 1, X or 2.
Iran have not received a single goal in the previous Asian Cup!
In October 2015, the teams faced each other for the last time in a friendly match!
In the tournament so far, Japan has won all five games to date!
Interesting betting opportunities for this semi-final but of course still exist. Both teams will not take full risk from the beginning and accordingly no peat festival is to be expected. Especially not, because so far both defensive rows could convince completely. Iran has yet to pocket a goal. In this respect, the odds for the over 2.5 with a 2.87 are quite understandable between Iran and Japan. Interestingly, however, as a bet on the under 2.5 (odds 1.40), the bets are that both teams to score, no. Odds of 1.57 are offered for this tip in the game between Iran and Japan, slightly higher than the under 2.5. Two waiting teams are to be expected, because the first goal could already be decisive game. On the tip that both teams do not score, four units are set!
Betting Prediction: Both Teams to score/ No
Odds: 1.57
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