the-afc.com
Tehran: Iran could celebrate qualification to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on Thursday if they beat neighbors Iraq when the two sides lock horns at Azadi Stadium in Group A of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar.
 
 
Unbeaten in Group A, hosts IR Iran leads the group with 16 points, two ahead of the second-placed Korea Republic and a whole 10 points clear of the UAE in third. Meanwhile, Iraq are yet to celebrate their first win in the group and languish in fifth place with four points.
 
 
A home win against their arch-rivals would put coach Dragan Skočić’s men at least 10 points clear of third place with just nine points remaining to compete for, confirming a place at the FIFA World Cup for the third time in a row for Team Melli. All hope is not lost for the Lions of Mesopotamia, who remain just two points adrift of the playoff qualifying third-place currently occupied by the UAE, and a win on Thursday could see them leapfrog the Emiratis with three games to go.

Porto FC striker Mehdi Taremi returns to Skočić’s squad after missing out last time but his participation in the match is in doubt as he is still stuck in Turkey, while all of captain Ehsan Hajsafi, Majid Hosseini, Sardar Azmoun and Ahmed Nourollahi tested positive for COVID-19 and were replaced by Persepolis FC holding midfielder Kamal Kamyabinia, as well as Aref Aghasi and Soroush Rafiei.Fenerbahce youngster Allahyar Sayyadmanesh remains a doubt.

 

The Iraqi camp has not fared better in terms of absences, with Rebin Sulaka, Amjad Attwan and Ali Fayez testing positive for COVID-19.

On a brighter note, Manchester United wonderkid Zidane Iqbal is in line to make his senior international debut, potentially forming an exciting forward line with youngster Ali Al Hammadi, but with doubts on Aymen Hussein’s availability for the second game against Lebanon.

The two sides met in the reverse fixture back in September, and Team Melli came out comfortable 3-0 winners, but a lot has changed since that match for the Lions of Mesopotamia, who have appointed former head coach Dick Advocaat’s assistant Zeljko Petrovic with a mission to revive the 2007 AFC Asian Cup champions’ fortunes.
IR IRAN v IRAQ
Venue: Azadi Stadium, Tehran
Kick-off: 18:00 hours (UTC+3:30)
 
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