AFC Asian Cup Quarter-Final: Iran vs Japan

Iran, ranked 21st globally and second in Asia, had a flawless group stage with three wins, including a notable 4-1 victory over Palestine and a hard-fought 1-0 win against Hong Kong. In the final group match, they defeated the United Arab Emirates with a brace from Mehdi Taremi. With a perfect group stage, they extended their unbeaten streak to 17 matches dating back to November 2022. Following a Round of 16 win against Syria on penalties, Iran is in excellent form heading into the upcoming match. 

Japan entered the tournament as favorites in Group D but faced a setback with a 2-1 loss to Iraq after an initial 4-2 win against Vietnam. Despite this, it was their only loss in the last 14 games, winning the other 13. The defeat served as a wake-up call, leading to an impressive 3-1 victory over Indonesia in the final group match. In the Round of 16, Japan outclassed Bahrain with a 3-1 win. Japan are unbeaten in their last three matches against this opponent and are the favourties heading into this one.

Iran has been unbeaten for over a year, instilling confidence in their chances. However, they need to improve their clinical finishing, as seen in their last match where they managed only one goal from 12 shots on target. Japan acknowledges Iran's strength, and in this clash of top-ranked teams, we anticipate a cautious game, possibly heading to a shootout, where Japan is likely to come out on top.

Prediction: Iran 1-1 (3-4 on pens.) Japan

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Japan：DAZN Japan

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