Iran targets World Cup spot; China and Qatar target survival

Iran could become just the second team to advance through qualifying for the 2018 World Cup — after Brazil — while China and Qatar could be officially eliminated from contention in Asian qualifiers this week.

Led by former Real Madrid and Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz, Iran has appeared at four World Cups but never managed back-to-back qualifications. Should Iran, four points clear at the top of Group A, defeat Uzbekistan in Tehran in front of what should be a capacity crowd of 100,000 today [Macau time], then it will secure a spot with two games remaining.

Unbeaten Iran hasn’t conceded any goals in seven games in the third round of qualification, from which the top two teams in both groups get automatic spots at Russia 2018. The two third-place finishers enter a playoff series.

Today, South Korea can take a step to a ninth successive World Cup with a win in Qatar. The Taeguk Warriors sit in second, four points below Iran and one above Uzbekistan, but a series of indifferent performances has raised the possibility of missing out on the World Cup for the first time since 1982.

Against Qatar — the recent diplomatic rift in the region meant that Korea traveled from United Arab Emirates to Doha via Kuwait on Saturday — defeat would see the team’s German coach Uli Stielike come under increasing pressure.

Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup, is last in Group A and already unable to finish in the top two in the group. Failure to win will officially end its already slim hopes of taking the playoff spot.

In the other Group A game today, Syria hosts China in the neutral venue of Malaysia. Syria has an outside chance of third place and is four points behind Uzbekistan.

China must win or its faint hopes of automatic qualification will end, and even the play-offs could be out of reach.

“It is totally within our capabilities to defeat Syria,” China coach Marcello Lippi said after his team thrashed the Philippines 8-1 in a friendly last week. “If we lose to Syria both at home and away, then we deserve to be eliminated.”

Three teams are level atop Group B with 16 points after Australia defeated Saudi Arabia 3-2 last week.

That gives Japan a chance to move three points clear in top spot if it beats Iraq in a game played on neutral turf in Tehran.

Japan will be without Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund who was injured in a warm-up 1-1 draw again st Syria, and coach Vahid Halilhodzic is expecting a tough time in Tehran.

“Everyone in Japan thinks that qualification for the World Cup is going to be no problem,” Halilhodzic said. “But I’ll warn everyone, it is not going to be easy.”

In the other Group B match Thailand, already out of contention, is looking for a first win in this stage at home to United Arab Emirates. AP