For the USA, it will be groundhog day, and they know they can’t put a foot wrong against Iran on Tuesday if they are going to advance to the Round of 16. We have reached the final round of Group B matches, and things could hardly be much tighter. It is essentially a winner-takes-all encounter between Iran and the USA, and Gregg Berhalter’s men know what is at stake.
There were some interesting takeaways from the previous round of group matches, but here are some stats worth bearing in mind before the USA takes on Iran.
- The USA are looking to avoid the ignominy of failing to win a group game since the 2006 World Cup. And in that year they didn’t get past the first hurdle of the competition.
- Iran and the USA have only clashed once previously in a competitive environment, with Iran emerging 2-1 winners.
- The two sides did also meet in a friendly back in 2000, which resulted in a 1-1 tie.
- Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz will officiate this game, and he has been quite card happy. In 7 La Liga games this season, he has handed out 3.86 yellows per game.
The latest installment will make for unmissable viewing, and there will be a swathe of US betting sites that will have an abundance of pre-match betting lines to tempt you. Ahead of kick-off, we have analyzed the latest markets, and we have picked out a few tips for you to chew over.
USA to punch ticket to the Round of 16
For large chunks of their encounter with England, the USA frustrated their opponents, and the likes of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka were subdued. Gareth Southgate had the chance to switch things around, but the Three Lions were rather flat, as they were devoid of any creative spark or zip. Christian Pulisic was their standout performer, and he led from the front, troubling England’s defense with his intelligent running and control of the ball. Indeed, the Chelsea midfielder had a combined tally of five shots and chances in the game, and he came closest to scoring when his effort cannoned off the crossbar.
Iran, meanwhile, stunned Wales with two goals deep in the second half of stoppage time, but the USA will be a significant step up in quality. The USA are arguably more experienced on the global stage, and they should come out on top. If you like the Moneyline, then the USA is trading at a short +100 with BetMGM to clinch three points and punch their ticket to the Round of 16. The same operator is also carrying odds of -105 for both teams to score.
Timothy Weah to make his mark
Timothy Weah has shown glimpses of what he can do at the World Cup, and he has already surpassed his footballing father, George, by scoring at a World Cup Finals. He took his goal with aplomb against Wales, and his pace could be the difference in this game.
Although the US have only scored once in their two group games to date, Weah will be a constant threat, and providing he receives good service, he will bury chances that come his way. The goalscorer markets always provide good value for money, and Weah will want to assert himself in the game. He could strike at any time, and this price is available at +275 with DraftKings, which may be worth exploring further.
USA to rack up corner count
The USA were rather productive on the corner front against England amassing seven corners, although they enjoyed less possession. Of course, the USA will have to be wary of Sardar Azmoun, who had a sense of verve and vibrancy in his play against Wales, where he managed four shots on goal, and he was unlucky to see an effort rebound off the post.
While he could cause problems with Mehdi Taremi, the USA may end up camping out for much of the game in Iran’s half, and rack up the corners. If you are a fan of the corner section, then DraftKings is advertising an intriguing-looking price of Over 5.5 corners for the US during the 90 minutes, which may be worth pursuing.
