Iraq and Oman will battle Tuesday in Group B of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
The two sides are currently the worst teams in Group B. However, both sides are still poised to make a run at a top two spot. While neither team is likely to catch Japan for first place, both sides are one win away from jumping past Jordan and Australia for the second spot in the group. Jordan has seven points while Australia and Oman have six; Iraq's five points are the worst in Group B. Jordan is idle on Tuesday while Australia will take on the powerhouse Japanese side. These two factors give either Oman or Iraq a chance to make up a lot of ground in the group.
The game has major implications for Oman as the squad has already played six games in the group stage. A loss in this game would leave them with only one opportunity to salvage their World Cup aspirations. With all four teams essentially tied, a loss could even dash the team's hopes of a third place finish in the group.
Oman's tournament got off to a tough start with a 3-0 loss against Japan. The team countered with a 0-0 draw against Australia and a 1-1 draw in Iraq. A 2-1 win over Jordan seemed to put the team on the right track, but a 2-1 loss to Japan and a 2-2 draw with Australia stopped their momentum.
Iraq started its tournament with a 1-1 draw against Jordan and a 1-1 draw with Oman. Back-to-back losses against Japan and Australia thrust them into last place, but a 1-0 win over Jordan improved their chances at a historic World Cup berth.
Prediction: The two sides battle to a 1-1 draw.
Start Time: 9:30 AM EST
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