After some dramatic Matchday 1 games, Iran faces Spain in their second match of the group phase at Kazan Arena in Kazan on this Wednesday, June 20th, 2018. Iran is topping the Group B table after a 1-0 victory over Morocco, while Spain earned just one point out of the clash against Portugal, so the Red Fury will have a huge motive to beat Iran and recapture the first spot.
Iran vs. Spain
3-Way: 1: Iran +2000; X: +650 Draw; 2: Spain -550 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread +2: Iran +102; Spain -110
Total +2.5: Over -139; Under +106
Both Teams to Score Yes/No: +240/-333
IRAN
It was a moment of glory for Team Melli when Morocco’s Aziz Bouhaddouz put the ball into his own net, as it meant the second ever World Cup victory for Iran, the first since France 1998. A 1-0 victory over Morocco in the first match also means that Iran now has a nice chance to reach the last 16 for the first time in their history, but there’s a long and bumpy road ahead of Carlos Queiroz’s boys. They were pretty lucky to beat Morocco, showing plenty of flaws in their play, particularly in the middle of the park where they lost all key battles.
The defensive performance was solid, particularly in the second half, while at the front, Iran missed a couple of huge scoring opportunities. The attacking midfielder Vahid Amiri had a few exceptional through passes, but the talented forward Sardar Azmoun ruined a one-on-one situation to grab his first World Cup goal. The centre-back Roozbeh Cheshmi was a defensive rock at the back, but the whole team will have to play much better if they want to get anything from the game against Spain.
SPAIN
The Red Fury had some turbulent time in the last couple of days, sacking a manager Julen Lopetegui after a job affair, and playing a 3-3 draw in the first match at the 2018 World Cup against Portugal which was a true rollercoaster. Spain was 2-1 down at the halftime, but with a couple of quick goals, they had a 3-2 lead just 13 minutes into the second half. When everyone thought they would earn the victory, the Red Fury allowed a free-kick in the danger zone, and Cristiano Ronaldo punished it with a beautiful strike. Although Spain dominated throughout the game, the lack of focus is obvious in their play.
David De Gea is one of the best goalies in the world at the moment, so his error at the second Ronaldo’s goal is simply unacceptable. The defensive line looked pretty fragile, so the new manager Fernando Hierro will have to work with his boys, as they have a potential to play strong at the back. However, the attacking flow was excellent, as the Red Fury completely controlled the ball in the midfield, creating some dangerous opportunities in front of Portugal’s keeper. Diego Costa had a remarkable game, scoring a brace, and showing he’s a true leader in the final third, so the fans are certainly excited about further matches.
Iran vs. Spain – Match and Odds Breakdown
After a draw against Portugal, the Red Fury need three points out of this one to get in a strong position ahead of the ultimate group-stage game with Morocco, so the bettors should expect an aggressive display and attacking approach from Fernando Hierro’s team. Spain possesses a tremendous offensive ability, and as long as the ball is in front of the rival’s net, their defense will be safe. Iran could hit on the counter, for sure, but they will have to cope with some world-class technicians along with the “Animal” at the front, as Diego Costa is certainly a beast.
Iran will undoubtedly sit back and defend, waiting for some chances through counter-attacks, as they could use Sardar Azmoun’s quickness at the front, but they will focus on the defensive job and try to somehow keep the clean sheet. In my opinion, there’s no way they will succeed, and if they kneel in the first half, it could be a start of a cannonade.
The bettors are pretty sure who will earn a victory here, so the bettors should try betting on the spread, as I think the Red Fury will get at least a two-goal margin win. Wagering on the over is another nice pick, as we could easily see three goals in Iran’s net, but I don’t believe Spain will concede on this one. Hereof, I will go with the spread at -2, as I think Spain should cover it, or at least grab a 2-0 win.
The Pick: Spain AH-2 (+102)
