The Persian threat puts the American dream to the test
Iran and the United States face off for a ticket to the round of 16 amid a week of tensions between the two countries
MADRID, 28 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The teams from Iran and the United States will go to the Al Thumama Stadium on Tuesday (8:00 p.m. / World Goal and Movistar) in search of a victory that will ensure their place in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar, in a duel that will revive some tensions historical differences between the two countries that have resurfaced in recent days.
US Soccer heated up the spirits by using on social networks an Iranian flag without the shield of the Islamic Republic, a symbol in force since 1980; From the Asian country they requested FIFA that the North American team be expelled from the World Cup, but everything was resolved with the American rectification.
In everyone’s mind is the only duel that has faced both teams, in the group stage of France’98, when, despite the deteriorated relations between the two countries due to the ‘yankee’ support for the ousted Shah and Iraq -in war against Iran in the eighties – and because of the hostage crisis, all the footballers took to the field of the Stade de Gerland in Lyon at the same time.
The then Iranian president Mohammad Khatami ordered his players not to go behind the Americans, as required by the protocol for the local team, but the agreement with their rivals, with whom they starred in a unique and historic photo prior to the game, posing all together, avoided reprisals. Iran won 2-1.
The current ‘Melli’ team has challenged the regime by refusing to sing the anthem against England as a call to action for the repression of the protests in the country for the murder of Mahsa Amini for not wearing the veil properly, a decision that they rectified by singing it before Wales.
Now, all the attention will move to the field of play, with the Spanish Antonio Mateu Lahoz as ‘peacemaker’, where they will have to resolve one of the two Group B tickets for the round of 16. Both teams depend on themselves to go through, although the accounts are more favorable for the Iranians, who even a draw would suffice as long as Wales do not beat England.
Carlos Queiroz’s men knew how to recover from the painful 6-2 conceded in their debut against the English, beating Wales (0-2), their first win against a European team in the World Cup. Repeating the result would allow them to get past the first round for the first time in their history.
Opposite, the United States (2) need a victory yes or yes to stay alive, after failing to draw against the two British teams -1-1 against Wales and 0-0 against England-. Gregg Berhalter’s men will seek to guide the ‘stars and stripes’ team to the round of 16, a round they have reached in their last two appearances.
IRÁN: H. Hosseini; Rezaeian, Pouraliganji, M. Hosseini, Mohammadi; Gholizadeh, Ezatolahi, Nourolahi, Hajsafi; Azmoun and Taremi.
ESTADOS UNIDOS: Turner; Dest, Zimmerman, Ream, Robinson; Adams, Musah, McKennie; Weah, Pulisic y Wright.
–REFEREE: Antonio Matthew Lahoz (ESP).
–STADIUM: Al Thumama.
–TIME: 20.00/Gol Mundial and Movistar.
