Iran vs. UAE: Preview and betting tips

The last part of the World Cup qualifying in Qatar is coming to a head in Asia, with already assured qualifiers Iran challenging the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. What to expect from the match?

Iran is the sovereign leader of its group after seven rounds of qualifying. It has won six of its seven matches and is ten points clear of third place. It is the only European country that is already assured of qualification.

The United Arab Emirates would like to take advantage of the fact that their favoured opponent no longer has anything to play for. They are third in the table and eight points behind the second place. They must win on Tuesday if they are to have any hope of qualifying.

The hosts rely on goal scorer Sardar Azmoun, the Zenit striker has scored nine times in qualifying. Porto mainstay Mehdi Taremi and Feyenoord winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh are also worth mentioning.

The Emirates have the top scorer in the entire Asian qualifying round. Ali Mabkhout has netted fourteen goals, no one is better or even equal. Ali Salmeen has been reliable in the midfield.

Iran has the best defensive record of all the selections in the third phase of the qualifiers, conceding only twice in seven games, scoring twelve goals themselves.

But the UAE have also worked on their defensive work, conceding just three goals in their last three qualifying matches.

Although Iran is already assured of qualification, I think they will not drop the game in front of their home crowd and will win.