World Cup Debate: Can Iran Still Qualify? Are Saudi Arabia Now The Favourites?

Who will be the happiest after the goalless draw between North Korea and Iran? The answer to that is easy: South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

The point helps the two Pyongyang protagonists little. Iran could easily have lost the game, but once again Medhi Rahmati showed his worth between the sticks in the second half.

Still, there will be no relief in the Iranian camp. Now they face a tiring trek back to Tehran and a game with UAE on Wednesday. 

That game was always going to be a must-win but failure to do just that against North Korea means that Iran will now have to win in Seoul on June 17. Even those six points may not be enough for automatic qualification. 

South Korea have clinched their spot in South Africa with a win at the home of bottom team UAE, leaving just one sure-fire route to the 2010 World Cup. It is hard to see this going to Iran at the moment. They have won once in six games in the group and now need to win two from two.

After the events of Saturday, it is Saudi Arabia who are smiling. It was a perfect day for them. Now, whatever happens elsewhere, the Green Falcons can go to South Africa with four points from their remaining two matches.

A draw in Seoul on June 10 and a home win over North Korea in Riyadh seven days later will be enough.

Even better is the fact that South Korea have already qualified. Saudi Arabia have been in East Asia for some time. The Taeguk Warriors will arrive late on Sunday night, exhausted after a long flight and a big game in hot and humid conditions. They also played for 40 minutes with ten men.

It will be a happy and tired Korea that take the field at Sangam Stadium on Wednesday against a committed, determined and fresh Saudi Arabia. The Saudis won in Seoul on the road to Germany four years ago and could certainly do so again.

At least Iran now know exactly what they have to do: win both games and hope for the best. The performance in North Korea was good before the break as they controlled the game though only once or twice did they open up the much-vaunted red wall.

The first was made for himself by Masoud Shojaei early in the match, chesting down the ball inside the area to force a good save from goalkeeper Ri Myung-guk, who pushed the shot on to the post. 

North Korea barely threatened before the break and at the end of the first half, Iran went close again. It was a move that would have taken Iranian fans back a few years and was Team Melli’s best moment; Ali Karimi and Mehdi Mahdavikia combined beautifully and Kia crossed for 2006 World Cup team-mate Vahid Hashemian to shoot wide.

After the break, North Korea took the game to Team Melli and asked questions of the Iranian defence and Rahmati. Hong Yong-jo especially had the chances to have put his team on the brink of South Africa. 

A draw in Pyongyang is a decent result and for Iran the damage was done in three previous matches when just two points were collected. Now Iran’s destiny, as far as automatic qualification is concerned, is out of their hands.

As one Iranian journalist told me yesterday, the play-off route is open and Iran always like to do things the hard way and in a dramatic fashion. They may have to.   

John Duerden

Asia Editor

john.duerden@goal.com

Get ready for the World Cup on and off the pitch at Goal.com Road To Africa.