A Weighty Group G Battle In Seattle
Two towering footballing cultures will be up against each other in a weighty Group G battle at the Lumen Field in Seattle.
Iran Lock Horns With Egypt
Iran, the mighty Asians and amongst the best top 20 nations in World Football and Egypt, the Afro-Arabs, led by the mercurial Mo Salah, will face each other on Saturday, June 27 at 8.30 am IST.
Egypt Atop Group G
Egypt are at the top of Group G at the moment with 4 points from a draw against Belgium and a win over New Zealand, and have already opened up the door to knockouts for themselves.
Iran Are Second
Iran, on the other hand are in 2nd position with two fighting draws against New Zealand and Belgium.
Iran Need A Win…
A win for Iran will send them through to the Round of 32, a loss will send them packing to Persia, while a draw may give them a slight chance to qualify to the next stage. A win, therefore, is what they need, and they have the quality to do so.
… And Have The Resources To Do So
Alireza Beiranvand, the Wall of Persia, was incredible against Belgium and will not be easy to score against, despite the presence of Mo Salah and a misfiring Omar Marmoush on the other side. Mehdi Taremi, who has had a quiet tournament, needs to fire for Iran. The Olympiacos striker is indeed a good bet, and so are Mohammad Mohebi and Ramin Rezaeian, the Esteghlal right back who can double up as an excellent winger.
Egypt Are In A Great Position
Egypt might have Mo Salah playing for a shorter duration in the game to give him some crucial rest before the knockouts begin. It will be a good test for the Pharaohs, and if they come unscathed, it will be a great confidence booster. Need to keep a watch on Ashour and Ziko, too. They are as good as any and can create issues for Iran from both flanks.
All Eyes On Iran
All eyes will be on Iran. The peace talks are underway after a deal was signed between the US and Iran to end the war. Iran has survived the war. Whether Iran also stay alive in the tournament is the big question. They have the skill, the temperament and loads and loads of grit to do so. We shall find out soon.
Watch Iran vs Egypt on ZEE5 App and Unite8 Sports 1 Channel in India.
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