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England vs Iran Odds & Prediction – World Cup Group B

Gary Gowers

by Gary Gowers in Soccer News

Updated Nov 20, 2022 · 6:00 AM PST

England World Cup Same-Game Parlay
England's Harry Kane, center, celebrates after scoring a goal from the penalty spot during an international soccer match between England and Switzerland at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, March 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
  • It’s England vs Iran in Round 1 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Monday, November 21
  • Wales and USA are the other two team competing in Group B
  • We preview England vs Iran, look at the odds, and offer some picks

It’s England vs Iran on Monday, November 21 in the first round of 2022 FIFA World Cup in Group B. It all kicks off in Khalifa International Stadium, Doha at 8am ET.

While England start as group favorites and are fancied to go deep in the tournament, Iran are big outsiders but bring with them a touch of the unknown. The USA and Wales are the other two teams in Group B.

We preview England vs Iran, look at the World Cup odds, and offer some analysis, team news, and picks below.

England vs Iran Odds

Matchup Moneyline
England -310
Iran +1200
Draw +340

Odds as of Nov 19 at BarstoolSportsbook. Use this BarstoolSportsbook promo code to bet on this or other games.

England start as big odds-on favorites, and are listed at -310 with an implied win probability of 76%. The flip side is Iran being pitched at +1200 for the win with an implied probability of just 8%. The draw is also generously priced at +340 – an implied probability of 23%.

Also, be sure to check out BetRivers to grab your World Cup Futures Insurance. Get up to $25 back with BetRivers World Cup Futures Insurance if your team doesn’t make it out of the Group Stage. (Odds must be -200 or greater).

Over/Under and Spread

Caesars are not expecting a goal-fest with over 2.5 goals in plus money at +120, while under is listed at -150. While these odds appear reasonable, given that opening games are often tentative, must-not-lose affairs, the chance of more than doubling your money for a 2-1 or a 3-0 looks tempting.

England vs Iran Preview

England come into this tournament off the back of a horrible run of form that has seen them go winless in six. If Iran are able to take a point or three from England, then it will be the Three Lions’ worst run since 1958.

With pressure already mounting on England Head Coach Gareth Southgate, a winning start is a must for his young team, which faces tougher tests ahead in the form of Wales and the USA. They will be hoping for a repeat of their 2018 opener when a Harry Kane brace saw them edge past Tunisia in a 2-1 win.

Expectations High for England

England’s journey to the semifinal in 2018 – when they lost to Croatia after extra time in the semifinal – was unexpected and was seen as them punching above their weight but this time around expectations are high.

Despite their terrible run of form, they are still ranked 5 in the world by FIFA and so will be expected to go deep in this tournament. The pressure is well and truly on for Southgate.

England vs Iran Head-to-Head Stats

ENGLAND
VS
IRAN
5th FIFA World ranking 20th
15 Appearances in WC Finals 5
13 Progressed to second phase 0
8-2-0 Qualification record 8-1-1
10-0 (vs San Marino) Biggest win in qualification 3-0 (vs Iraq & Syria)
L-D-D-L-L-D Form guide W-L-W-D-W-L

Third Successive Finals for Iran

In terms of opening games, they don’t come much tougher than this one for Iran. While they are ranked a very respectable 20th in the FIFA rankings, a round-one game against the team ranked 5 makes for a difficult start to a tournament, especially as their preparation has been dogged with controversy.

Despite the Ukrainian FA formally requesting that Iran be banned from the tournament for the country’s links to Russia, they will be kicking off the Group B action in Qatar in what is Carlos Queiroz’s team’s third successive finals tournament.

Just Three Defeats in Their Last 22

If Team Melli are to make top two and progress to the knockout phase, it will be their first time ever, but it is worth noting that they won their opener in 2018 against Morocco. It was only their second win in the finals.

On paper, Iran are on a better run of form than England – three wins in their last six – and in their two pre-World Cup friendlies they beat Nicaragua 1-0 before losing 2-0 to Tunisia in midweek. Worth noting too is that the loss to Tunisia was only their third in their last 22 games.

England vs Iran Team Lineups and Injuries

EnglandProjected Lineup: Pickford. Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Bellingham, Rice, Foden, Sterling, Rashford, Kane.

Injuries & absences: Walker, Maddison.

Iran Projected Lineup: Beiranvand, Moharrami, Pouraliganji, Hosseini, Mohammedi, Nourollahi, Ezatolahi, Hajsafi, Jahanbakhsh, Taremi, Amiri.

Injuries & absences: Ebrahimi, Azmoun.

England vs Iran Prediction

The obvious bet is the England win but their poor form and habit of making life difficult for themselves in the group stages of major tournaments is also a factor.

If England do win, it’s likely to be by a modest scoreline and, actually, for me, the value here is with Iran grabbing a shock draw.

Picks: England and Iran to draw (+340) / Over 2.5 goals (+120)

 

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