Albania vs Iran
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Today’s secondary featured game is the International Friendly in Turkey between Albania and Iran.
Albania enter this game on the back of an encouraging 2-1 win against Qatar in Spain about five days ago. They played well in that game and were unlucky to not score more goals, too. However, that’s not really the Albanian way of playing football and I very much doubt that we’ll see that approach again. Albania were clearly moved by the horrible bus crash in Albania that resulted in the deaths of around eleven children, an incident which jeopardised the fixture’s existence, truth be told. Full marks to Albania for such a moving response to that incident too – they were very good indeed. Now they have had to make one of the longest trips in Europe to get from Spain to Turkey and they have a very different opponent today – Iran. Qatar are no mugs but take them out of the Asian group and you’ll generally win if you bet against them. Now Albania have to be much more careful because if they play an open game with a good Iran side then they’re going to get ripped apart. Albania still have Cana in the centre of the park, which is a massive boost for them, but it’s in games like these where the absentees such as Lala and Duro are heavily missed from midfield, not to mention pacey Salihi up front and defenders Curri and Vangjeli. Cani has done ok alongside the towering but immobile Bogdani up front but he’s no Salihi and Albania will miss him against a good side. The three goalkeepers that Albania have called up – Berisha, Mocka, and Shehi – have no more than two caps between them. No more than three of Albania’s back four are guaranteed here (most likely two, to be honest) and despite the pace and skill of both Hyka and Bakaj, you can’t help but feel that Albania are lacking some core players in this game and away from Tirana, that does become more evident.
Iran have developed a much more “total football” approach ever since Carlos Queiroz took over. They’ve looked much stronger going forward and are scoring more goals as a result. Iran have the advantage over Albania in the sense that they’ve already been in Turkey for six days ahead of this game. You also have to compare the experience of the two sides and realise how much better-placed Iran are to get a result here with 245 caps between Ali Karimi and Javad Nekounam alone, both of which are very good players. The continued absence of Shojaei is a shame and Nosrati is not in the squad which may affect the Iranian defence. However, Iran still have lots of experienced players in their squad and play a better style of football than Albania. You have to go back to the Asian Cup in January 2011 (eleven matches!) to find the last time that Iran failed to score in a game so Albania are in for a rough ride today, especially with Russia being one of the sides that Iran despatched along the way.
For me, 8/5 on an Iranian win here looks a bit of a steal. Albania are not easy to play against but you have to expect them to carry a bit of tiredness with all of the travelling that they’ve done. Iran are much fresher, much more experienced, and much more dangerous in the final third, hence my selection.
Verdict: Iran to win at 8/5.
Sunday’s Picks
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games!
Toulon Tournament:
Netherlands vs Turkey (6) 2-1
Egypt vs Japan (6) 1-2
International Friendlies:
France vs Iceland (8) 2-0
Wales vs Mexico (7) 0-2 (played in USA)
Albania vs Iran (6) 1-2 (played in Turkey)
Oman vs Lebanon (7) 2-0
Tunisia vs Rwanda (6) 1-0
Jamaica vs Panama (7) 2-1
Argentinian Primera Division:
Atletico Rafaela vs Tigre (5) 1-1
San Lorenzo de Almagro vs Newell’s Old Boys (5) 0-0
Independiente vs Union de Santa Fe (6) 1-0
Boca Juniors vs Godoy Cruz de Mendoza (7) 2-0
Brazilian Serie A:
Santos vs Sport Recife (7) 2-1
Sao Paulo vs Bahia (8) 2-0
Atletico Mineiro vs Corinthians (6) 0-0
Coritiba vs Botafogo (6) 2-1
Fluminense vs Figueirense (7) 2-0
Gremio vs Palmeiras (4) 1-1
Chilean Primera Division:
Cobreloa vs Universidad de Chile (5) 2-2
Colombian Primera A:
Once Caldas Manizales vs Atletico Junior Barranquilla (6) 2-1
Real Cartagena vs Atletico Nacional de Medellin (3) 0-1
Deportivo Cali vs La Equidad Bogota (6) 2-1
Itagui Ditaires vs Atletico Huila (5) 1-1
Boyaca Chico vs Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota (5) 1-0
Millonarios Bogota vs Patriotas (5) 1-0
Cucuta Deportivo vs Deportivo Pasto (7) 2-0
Danish 1st Division:
Vestjaelland vs Bronshoj (6)
Roskilde vs Skive (5)
Viborg vs Naestved (7)
Fredericia vs Blokhus (7)
Esbjerg vs Hobro (8)
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
HJK Helsinki vs FC Lahti (8) 2-0
Haka Valkeakoski vs FC Honka Espoo (5) 1-1
Jaro Pietarsaari vs IFK Mariehamn (6) 0-0
KuPS Kuopio vs VPS Vaasa (4) 1-1
MyPa Anjalankoski vs JJK Jyvaskyla (5) 1-2
Finnish Ykkonen:
AC Oulu vs Viikingit Helsinki (7)
PK-35 Helsinki vs Jippo Joensuu (8)
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Ujpest vs Fehervar (7) 0-1
Lombard Papa vs Gyori ETO FC (7) 1-2
Kaposvari Rakoczi vs Zalaegerszegi TE (7) 2-1
Latvian Virsliga:
Daugava Daugavpils vs Metta/LU (7) 2-0
Liepajas Metalurgs vs FK Ventspils (4) 1-1
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Banga Gargzdai vs Kruoja Pakruojis (5) 0-1
Peruvian Primera Division:
Cobresol vs Cienciano (6) 1-1
Leon de Huanuco vs Melgar FBC (7) 1-0
Sport Boys vs Inti Gas (5) 2-1
Juan Aurich vs Sporting Cristal (6) 2-1
Polish Liga 1:
Gornik Polkowice vs Polonia Bytom (5) over 2.5 goals
Arka Gdynia vs Pogon Szczecin (4)
Wisla Plock vs Warta Poznan (5)
Piast Gliwice vs Zawisza Bydgoszcz (6) over 2.5 goals
Sandecja Nowy Sacz vs Katowice (5)
Bogdanka Leczna vs Nieciecza (7)
Kolejarz Stroze vs Olimpia Elblag (7)
Dolcan Zabki vs Olimpia Grudziadz (5)
Flota Swinoujscie vs Ruch Radzionkow (6)
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Girona vs Recreativo de Huelva (5)
Cordoba vs Real Murcia (7)
Gimnastic de Tarragona vs Celta de Vigo (7)
Alcoyano vs Elche (4)
Guadalajara vs Almeria (6) over 2.5 goals
Alcorcon vs Real Valladolid (5) both sides to score
Sabadell vs Numancia (4)
Hercules Alicante vs Deportivo Xerez (6)
Deportivo La Coruna vs Huesca (8)
Cartagena vs Villarreal II (5)
Swedish Superettan:
Ljungskile vs Assyriska Sodertalje (5)
Uruguayan Primera Division:
Danubio vs Cerro Largo (7) 2-0
Club Nacional de Montevideo vs Montevideo Wanderers (7) 2-0
Defensor Sporting vs El Tanque Sisley (7) 2-1
Liverpool Montevideo vs Cerrito (7) 2-1