Asian Cup:
Iran v United Arab Emirates, Brisbane Stadium.
Kick-off:
8pm AET (7pm local), Monday.
Fox Sports 4 (live)
Referee:
Ryuji Sato (Japan)
Odds:
Iran $1.95, draw $3.30, United Arab Emirates $4 (Sportsbet.com.au)
Rankings:
Iran: 51, United Arab Emirates: 80
Five to watch
1. Ashkan Dejagah (Iran)2. Ali Mabkhout (United Arab Emirates)
The other superstar of the Emirates' team is proving himself more than capable of cutting it with Omar Abdulrahman. Mabkhout is in white-hot form right now and would have to be favourite for the Golden Boot after scoring three goals in two games. His finishing has been faultless and if the Iranians let their guard down, Mabkhout will surely punish them.
3. Masoud Shojaei (Iran)4. Omar Abdulrahman (United Arab Emirates)5. Ehsan Hajsafi (Iran)
A man of many positions and talents, Hajsafi has been dynamic at this tournament. Named as an attacking left-winger, his combination with left-back Mehrdad Pouladi is as dynamic as they get in Asian football. They criss-cross over each other when required and will be a nightmare for the Emirates' right side.
Key match-up
Sardar Azmoun (Iran) v Hamdan Al-Kamali (United Arab Emirates)
Al-Kamali has shown his composed nature again in the opening matches but he gets a huge test in the form of the next big star of Iranian football. Azmoun's wonder goal against Qatar has elevated him to pop-star status and he'll be looking to wow the thousands of Iranian fans once more.
In the dugout
Carlos Queiroz (Iran)
The former Real Madrid mentor will be pleased with how his team is going, even if he's been talking them down in the press. His team is packed so full with stars that he'll probably rest a few of them in the second half with a view to the knockout stages.
Mahdi Ali (United Arab Emirates)A spot of politics
This has to be a contender for the hottest geopolitical clash at the Asian Cup. For years, the world has known the stretch of water between Arabian and Iran as the Persian Gulf. But the Arab population on the southern side calls it the Arabian Gulf, with the UAE Pro-League even being renamed the Arabian Gulf League this year. For that reason, Iran star Javad Nekounam was recently prevented from playing his club football in the UAE. In Sydney, Iranian fans unveiled a huge Iran flag with "Persian Gulf" written across the middle of the flag.
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/socce...18-12srkd.html
Iran v United Arab Emirates, Brisbane Stadium.
Kick-off:
8pm AET (7pm local), Monday.
Fox Sports 4 (live)
Referee:
Ryuji Sato (Japan)
Odds:
Iran $1.95, draw $3.30, United Arab Emirates $4 (Sportsbet.com.au)
Rankings:
Iran: 51, United Arab Emirates: 80
Five to watch
1. Ashkan Dejagah (Iran)2. Ali Mabkhout (United Arab Emirates)
The other superstar of the Emirates' team is proving himself more than capable of cutting it with Omar Abdulrahman. Mabkhout is in white-hot form right now and would have to be favourite for the Golden Boot after scoring three goals in two games. His finishing has been faultless and if the Iranians let their guard down, Mabkhout will surely punish them.
3. Masoud Shojaei (Iran)4. Omar Abdulrahman (United Arab Emirates)5. Ehsan Hajsafi (Iran)
A man of many positions and talents, Hajsafi has been dynamic at this tournament. Named as an attacking left-winger, his combination with left-back Mehrdad Pouladi is as dynamic as they get in Asian football. They criss-cross over each other when required and will be a nightmare for the Emirates' right side.
Key match-up
Sardar Azmoun (Iran) v Hamdan Al-Kamali (United Arab Emirates)
Al-Kamali has shown his composed nature again in the opening matches but he gets a huge test in the form of the next big star of Iranian football. Azmoun's wonder goal against Qatar has elevated him to pop-star status and he'll be looking to wow the thousands of Iranian fans once more.
In the dugout
Carlos Queiroz (Iran)
The former Real Madrid mentor will be pleased with how his team is going, even if he's been talking them down in the press. His team is packed so full with stars that he'll probably rest a few of them in the second half with a view to the knockout stages.
Mahdi Ali (United Arab Emirates)A spot of politics
This has to be a contender for the hottest geopolitical clash at the Asian Cup. For years, the world has known the stretch of water between Arabian and Iran as the Persian Gulf. But the Arab population on the southern side calls it the Arabian Gulf, with the UAE Pro-League even being renamed the Arabian Gulf League this year. For that reason, Iran star Javad Nekounam was recently prevented from playing his club football in the UAE. In Sydney, Iranian fans unveiled a huge Iran flag with "Persian Gulf" written across the middle of the flag.
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/socce...18-12srkd.html