(ANSA) – ROME, APRIL 02 – The coach of Iran, who was included in yesterday’s draw in Group B of the World Cup, together with the United States, has assured that he wants to “think” only “about football”, despite the troubled political and historical context between the two countries. “I’m not interested in political issues, in relation to the United States. There are arguments between the two countries, but we only want to think about football,” said coach Dragan Skocic.
Since the Islamic revolution of 1979, marked in particular by the US crisis of the hostage affair, the two countries have been at loggerheads.
This is the second time that Iran and the United States are in the same group at the World Cup. In 1998, in France, Iran defeated the US 2-1. Relations have become strained again since the United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and following the return of sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Also opposed to England and a European play-off, the Iranian coach, 21 / o in the Fifa rankings, believes his team is capable of reaching the round of 16 for the first time in Qatar. “We will try to pass the round – explains Skocic, whose selection is participating for the third consecutive World Cup -. I have always said that we have an excellent team and maybe we will be able to qualify for the second round”.
Iran, the best Asian team in the FIFA ranking, has already participated in five editions of the World Cup.
“England will be the most difficult team to face,” added Skocic, 53, a former player from Las Palmas and Compostela (Spain). Many Iranian fans are expected in Qatar in November to support their favorite team: “It will be as if we were playing at home. There will be many of our fans.”
(HANDLE).
Source: Ansa
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