Iraq vs Syria

Iraq and Syria are set to battle it out for survival in Asia’s World Cup Qualification Group A at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium.

The United Arab Emirates’ 94th-minute equalizer last time out (2-2) kept Iraq’s winless start to their Group A campaign going (D3, L1), though it marked an attacking improvement from the ‘Usood Al-Rafidain.’ Indeed, before putting two past the UAE, Iraq had failed to get on the scoresheet in four consecutive World Cup qualifying matches (D2, L2), three of which featured under 1.5 total goals. Sitting five points behind the second-placed Korea Republic, the Iraqi can ill-afford a slip-up here if they are to qualify for their first World Cup finals since 1986. After picking up just one win from their last nine international meetings with Syria (D5, L3), that could be easier said than done. With eight of those nine H2Hs featured under 2.5 match goals, a low-scoring contest looks well on the cards.

As for Syria, their hopes of reaching their first-ever World Cup showpiece look doomed on the back of a horrendous Group A start. The Syrians have lost three of their four third-round fixtures so far (D1), falling to a narrow one-goal margin on each occasion, including a 3-2 home loss to Lebanon last time out. What’s more, the ‘Qasioun Eagles’ have gone from two consecutive victories in their away World Cup qualifying matches to losing three such road trips in a row, scoring only two goals while conceding six in that sequence. Interestingly, you have to go back to July 2019 to find Syria’s last draw on foreign soil, with none of their 12 international travels since that 1-1 stalemate against India ending level (W3, L9).