On the eve of their second match in the World Cup, against Belgium, in Group G, in Los Angeles this Sunday (21), Iran once again complained about the restrictions faced by the delegation since their arrival in the United States.
The team, which is concentrated in Tijuana, Mexico, claims to have had less time to adapt and prepare than other teams.
According to coach Amir Ghalenoei, logistical problems and limitations imposed on the group reduced the time available for training before matches. “These conditions are very difficult,” he said in an interview with journalists on Saturday night (20).
The coach also stated that the team arrived in the United States less than 18 hours in advance to play and only needed to carry out part of the planned training.
Ghalenoei said the situation should improve for the delegation’s next trip.
According to him, the Iranians received authorization to arrive two days earlier at the venue for the match against Egypt, on the 27th, something that had not been previously allowed.
“I was told that in Seattle I can do whatever I want and that I can arrive before [do jogo]”, said the coach, without specifying who gave permission. “Why didn’t they give us permission to do so from the first game?”, he asked.
Ghalenoei confirmed that FIFA tried to reduce the problems faced by the team, but highlighted that the difficulties persisted over the last few weeks. “I’m not saying they helped us. I’m saying they tried to minimize the problems.”
For him, the result of the first match (2-2 against New Zealand, also in Los Angeles) is a reflection of players tired with the trip with little notice for the game.
“There were individual errors and also defensive problems,” he said. “I think we made too many passes. And I also believe that because we were traveling and moving around so much, we ended up getting tired.”
With political conflicts spilling over into the fields, Iran’s desire to bring joy to the country embroiled in the conflict it has been experiencing with the US since the end of February could affect its opponents.
Belgian right-back Thomas Meunier, in an interview with journalists, said that this is “an additional challenge” for his team. “I imagine some Iranian athletes have family members affected by the war.”
“We have a habit of not mixing politics and football too much, although at the moment it is becoming difficult to separate the two,” he continued, saying he believes the situation could become extra motivation for Iran to take to the field.
“There is a certain motivation, a gain of energy to finally be able to make the people, the nation, the people who support the team proud.”
“I see it precisely as an additional difficulty because, in their mentality, I imagine that there are players from Iran who perhaps have family members who have been affected by events, by destruction, by bombings and, in reality, when you are a patriot, you necessarily feel touched by these types of things,” said Meunier.
In the first game, the Belgian team also drew: 1-1 against Egypt.
Coach Rudi Garcia states that the team was not well positioned, but was able to adjust the problems. “We need to be at 100% of our capacity to beat them,” he said.
One of the European team’s complaints in the debut game was the condition of the field they found in Seattle.
This is because, due to the high temperatures, the field would have dried quickly, which would have slowed the ball down. Furthermore, the grass would be very tall.
Meunier said that the pitch at the Los Angeles stadium appeared to be in better condition and, as a result, fans can expect a faster game.
