The United States and Iran go into the World Cup in politics and football with complaints that their coaches, Greg Berhalter and Dragan Skosic, are keen to defuse before the teams meet in November.
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They will meet in Group B at the World Cup in Qatar, and will also play in England and potentially Ukraine, which could be the first round matches that make the most of the headlines.
The United States has been a diplomatic arch rival of Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. On the pitch, Iran famously defeated the Americans in the 1998 World Cup when the two sides exchanged roses before the game.
Berhalter can’t believe that there will be more bouquets to be seen this time around. Nor does he want to talk about politics.
“At the time it was a good gesture, but everyone has moved on. Iran is focused on doing a good job in the World Cup and we are focused on that.”
Berhalter did not play but recalls a 1998 defeat in Lyon which saw United knocked out of the tournament.
American goalscorer Brian McBride is now general manager of the national team. Iran’s second goal scorer, Mehdi Mahdwikia, is on Iran’s coaching staff.
“It was a match where I don’t think we did well and we lost,” said Berhalter, who played 44 matches for the US and became national coach in 2018.
– political football –
“I give a lot of credit to Iran for their spirit and how they performed in that game.”
But he added that “football goes beyond a lot of political things.
“That is history, that was 24 years ago and for us, it is about what comes next.”
Skocic took a similar view of the hostilities that have continued with US efforts to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program.
“I don’t care about it. Of course, there is a story, but we are focused on the game,” said Iran’s Croatian coach.
Along with England, the United States also has a long history in the World Cup.
They defeated England in 1950 in the biggest blow the tournament has known, and drew 1–1 with them in their first game at the 2010 World Cup.
England coach Gareth Southgate said he had met with Berhalter just a few weeks ago for lengthy football talks, so the two were “smiling” when they were pulled together. The England-America match will be “interesting”, he said, with the possibility of meeting a qualifier between Ukraine, Scotland or Wales.
Berhalter again tried to avoid sentiment, emphasizing that Southgate had great respect for the side.
“It will be the second game in the group,” said the man, who played a season for Crystal Palace in England’s second leg.
“Our aim is to get through the group, so we’ll have to see how the first game goes for both teams.”
The World Cup will create “some great matchups but also some great prospects.
“We have a young team, probably the youngest team in the World Cup and we are looking forward to getting started.”
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