Iran: the joy of a historic triumph amid threats to knock out Bale’s Wales | CHRONICLE

Hours before the Guatemalan referee, Mario Escobar, whistled the start of the match between Iran and Wales for Group B at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Rayyan; Iranian players lived a real nightmare. In these three days that have passed since the defeat suffered against England in the debut at the World Cup Qatar 2022 in which they decided not to sing the national anthem in protest of the Iranian regime’s mistreatment of women, they received death threats and even denounced that agents of the Revolutionary Guard were conducting intelligence in the place where they were concentrating.

In the midst of this conflict, those led by Carlos Queiroz took to the field to face the Wales of Gareth Balethe star of Los Angeles FC of the MLS who gave up playing virtual golf in the simulator that he had installed in the training camp of his team in order to avoid back pain and be one hundred percent for the game against the Asians, although it went completely unnoticed during the almost hundred minutes of play.

What did not go unnoticed was the prelude to the game. The Iranian national anthem. This time, the footballers decided to sing it out loud, something that left images for history in the stands. Especially since the security of Qatar, that organizing country that has an infinite number of restrictions, did not let them protest in the stands as they would have wanted. The police took the flags he had.

But the story had a happy ending. A 2-0 triumph for Iran who, in the midst of conflicts, tries to make history and bring joy to his people in a World Cup that, for them, is more than a football match. More than giving the ball to Mehdi Taremi, his great star, and trying to solve. More than the tactical changes and strategies of the Portuguese Carlos Queiroz, who could not qualify Egypt for the World Cup and returned to the Iranian team for their safe process. He was previously between 2011 and 2019, then he went to the Colombian team, although he did not last long in office.

With pride running through their veins and their hearts beating at a thousand an hour, the Asians took to the field with the sole objective of defeating ‘Los Dragones’ and from the first minute they warned. The VAR annulled a goal after a sensational play, with a double wall resolved by ali gholizadeh. However, a millimeter offside caught the attention of the referees in charge of the technology that was installed in football to -in theory- give justice, but also to remove emotions.

Iran paid dearly for its lack of effectiveness and the ghost of elimination in the group stage in the five World Cups they attended loomed large. On the other hand, the Europeans did not generate chances or approach the rival goal, ruining the armed party for their fans in their country.

Added time and miracles

In Qatar 2022 The matches are being handled with unusual added time in the history of the World Cups. The referees are raising the electronic sign with numbers like 7, 8, 9 and even 12. According to Pierluigi Collina, famous ex-referee and current president of the FIFA Referees Committee, it is sought that there is more active time in a match. That is, to play more.

In the second half of Iran vs. WelshJudge Escobar decided to grant nine minutes of compensation for the red – the first of the tournament – to the Welsh goalkeeper Hennessey, who came out to cut a goal play and ended up running over Taremi at 85 ‘.

With one more player on the field and almost 15 more minutes to go, Iran sent everything towards the rival goal. Although only at 98 ‘the scoring would open after a right hand from Rouzbeh Cheshmi from outside the box, making it the first long-range goal in the 2022 World Cup.

As soon as the 1-0 celebrations ended, Iran scored the game-clinching goal. A counter initiated and organized by Taremi ended at the feet of Raminthe right side that he defined as the best forwards in the world: he stung it before the goalkeeper left.

It was a deserved 2-0 for an Iranian team that dreams of reaching the round of 16, as well as beating a European team for the first time in the World Cups. He has 3 points and must wait for England to beat the United States to define against the North Americans (one point, the same as Wales) access to the next round.

In their houses, in Welsh, the Europeans chew the rant, while the children surely enjoy their day without school. Meanwhile, in the stands the Iranians shed tears of happiness and those led by Carlos Queiroz they smile. A victory in a soccer match is the perfect excuse to try to bring peace to a country submerged in conflict.

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