Last time I predicted the match between South Korea and Jordan, the result was correct, and the other semi-final of the Asian Cup is about to start today, and I would like to ** again, the two major West Asian powerhouses Iran and Qatar are in the spotlight. Iranian football, as the top powerhouse in Asia, has always been the favorite to win major competitions; Qatar, on the other hand, is second-tier in the FIFA rankings, but their winning of the last Asian Cup and their strong performance in this edition have made people look at them with admiration.
According to the latest edition of the FIFA national team rankings, Iran is ranked 21st, while Qatar is ranked 58th. In terms of team value, the total value of Iran's players is as high as 51.58 million euros, while Qatar's is 15.9 million euros. While Iran has the advantage in terms of value and ranking, Qatar is not without a chance of winning.
Iran's striker duo Taremi and Azmoun, as well as Eredivisie Feyenoord striker Jahan Sh, are at the heart of the team's attack. Meanwhile, Premier League Brentford's Gudos has also breathed life into the team's midfield. Qatar, on the other hand, rely on their number one star, Afif, who has scored four goals and provided two assists in this Asian Cup. In addition, Moezali and Haydos also have excellent attacking ability.
The all-time head-to-head record between the two teams is also quite interesting. Iran have won three consecutive Asian Cups, while Qatar won the last Asian Cup. Iran is a regular at the World Cup, while Qatar is participating in the World Cup for the first time as the host.
For this upcoming final, both sides have their own strengths and challenges. The Iranian team has a strong heritage, while Qatar is the host, with the advantage of the right time and place. Considering Qatar's winning record in previous matches and their tenacity in penalty shoot-outs, they may also surprise Iran.
For this match, I think that in the case of ranking and economic strength, the Iranian team still has a great advantage in terms of heritage and experience, especially after they eliminated the strong team Japan, their confidence and morale are high, and I am optimistic about the Iranian team in this game.