Syria Wants to Derail In-Form Iran: 2023 Asian Cup
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Syria will attempt to derail Iran's bid for a long overdue fourth title when the two sides square off in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Round of 16 on Wednesday.
Iran is a team in form, topping Group C with a perfect record of three wins while Syria advanced as one of the best four third-placed teams.
Iran and Syria will meet at the AFC Asian Cup for just the second time, with their first encounter ending in a 0-0 draw in the group stage of the 1980 edition.
Iran has qualified for the knockout stage of the AFC Asian Cup for the eighth consecutive time; however, it has lost at the first hurdle at three of the last four tournaments - including an extra-time loss and two shootout defeats.
Syria will feature in the knockout stage of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in what is its seventh appearance at the tournament; it will also be looking to win back-to-back games at the tournament for the first time since 1988 after logging a 1-0 victory over India in its final group stage game of this edition.
Iran has a passing accuracy of 83.7% at Qatar 2023, its highest at any of the last five tournaments; indeed, its 549 passes per game are also it most at any of the last five tournaments.
