Tomorrow, Cymru plays Iran in their second game of the 2022 World Cup.
The team led by Robert Page drew 1-1 with the United States in their first game. They need three points to make it to the next round of the tournament.
Here, we look at the most talked-about things about the match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha.
The Qatar heat…
With a kickoff time of 10 p.m. local time, Cymru and the United States played in more comfortable temperatures.
On Friday, however, things will get underway at 1 p.m. with the Iran match.
At kickoff, temperatures are predicted to be around 29 degrees Celsius; will this give the Iranians a leg up, given that they are accustomed to playing in such heat?
Tehran clash…
Cymru had played the three-time Asian Cup champions before, but England have never faced Iran before Monday’s World Cup matchup.
The Liverpool-supporting son of the Shah of Iran invited a British side to play in a friendly in Tehran in April 1978.
In front of a crowd of 50,000, Phil Dwyer of Cardiff scored the game’s only goal as Cymru defeated Iran 1-0.
Iran protests..
Before their match against England, Iran’s players conducted a silent protest by not signing the national anthem.
Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, watched his team’s opening game against the United States. However, the Welsh delegation will not watch Cymru’s next game, against Iran, and will instead save their attendance for Wales’s final Group B game, against England.
Bale still the main man…
Gareth Bale, who will soon win a record 110th cap for Wales, is 33 years old, yet he is still capable of giving match-defining moments and is still the difference for Cymru.
Against the United States, Bale converted, a penalty, keeping Wales’s quarterfinals hopes alive.
More big Kieffer, please…
Kieffer Moore, who stands at 6 feet 5 inches, was surprisingly left off of Cymru’ starting eleven.
After a fruitless first half, manager Page made a substitution at halftime, and Moore completely turned around Cymru’ fortunes by holding the ball up and getting Bale and Aaron Ramsey involved.
Moore must start again on Friday since England’s 6-2 opening victory exposed Iran’s defensive vulnerability in the air.
Allen in training…
“Give me hope Joe Allen” sing the Wales fans to the tune of Eddy Grant’s “Gimme Hope Jo’anna – and they are hoping the Swansea midfielder is fit enough to play some part after missing their World Cup opener.
Allen, who has 72 caps and is crucial to the way Cymrus plays, has been out with a hamstring injury since September 17.
While Allen first spent his time in Qatar exercising independently, he has since increased his physical effort and has joined the main group in training.
