Having snatched a draw against the USA with a late penalty from Gareth Bale, Wales are eyeing their first World Cup win since 1958 when they face Iran on Friday.
Iran were torn apart by England on Monday, conceding six goals. Team Melli will be knocked out of the tournament if they fall to another defeat here.
Wales are boosted by the return of veteran midfielder Joe Allen. Harry Wilson and Ethan Ampadu came off against the USA and it is unclear if the pair will be fit to start on Friday.
Iran’s star man Sardar Azmoun came off the bench against England, but could be included in the XI here.
Winner: Wales
Iran are a better side than they showed against England, and Mehdi Taremi proved he is a threat in the final third.
It is still a surprise to see Wales as long as 21/20 to win this match considering their second half effort against the USA and their experience in tournament football.
With nine losses in 15 World Cup matches, Iran are the weakest team in Group B and are on course to finish with no points.
Anytime Goalscorer: Gareth Bale
It was fitting that Bale became Wales’ first World Cup goal scorer in over half a century.
Winning and converting the penalty, Bale added another layer to his unparalleled legacy for the Dragons and will be the danger man once again on Friday.
He might not be as explosive or quick as he once was, yet Bale’s knack for delivering when it matters most remains, as he illustrated during the 2022 MLS season.
Total Cards: Over 3.5
There were four yellow cards in just the first half of Wales’ match against the USA. Lenient officiating saw Iran booked only twice against England despite some brutal challenges.
With so much at stake, this has the makings of a fiery match. Four or more cards is good value at 5/6.
All odds are subject to change