Tag: Protests

  • World Cup Dispatch: Wales v Iran

    As this match was the early one of the day, I did not get up at 5am to watch it. But reading the recaps this morning, it appears all the drama happened at the very beginning and end of the match.

    The Iranian team decided that they would “sing” their national anthem at the match’s opening ceremony. With the men barely moving their lips, and looking down, they gave more of an impression of reluctance and shame than national pride. No matter how hard FIFA and the Iranian authorities try, you can’t stop politics and protesting from happening.

    Then late in the match, Wales goalkeeper was shown the red card, leaving the Welsh shorthanded. This gave Iran what they needed to get over the hump and quickly scored two successive goals in stoppage time.

    With this out come, Group B just got a hell of more competitive. Wales isn’t fully out if it, but to survive they will have to beat England on Tuesday, which isn’t likely. Iran will need to win against the USA on Tuesday to advance, which will add another level of drama to that match. And that leaves today’s face off between England and the USA. For survival purposes, the US has to get a draw if not a win. But if they lose to England… Tuesday is going to be a crazy three way fight for second in the group.

    That’s right, right? I got my math correct on the outcomes in the group, right?

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  • World Cup Dispatch: Argentina v Saudi Arabia, and Other News

    I’m excited about the World Cup, but I’m not so rabid that I would get up at 5am to watch the first match of the day. My friend Shawn might, but not me.

    And then Saudi Arabia goes and creates the first upset of the Tournament. Oh, Messi, always the bridesmaid at World Cup, even with a goal in the 10th minute. But at the end of the day, props to the Saudi Arabian squad, because they clearly believed they could win.

    As for other matches, I’m looking forward to Mexico v Poland. I have lots of respect for the Mexican team, as they have been the bane of Team USA’s existence. Yet, I feel a level of loyalty to our continental neighbor, as Mexico has a huge football fan base who does believe they should the first North American men’s team to win a Cup.

    In other World Cup news, team Iran did not sing their national anthem at the opening of their match against England yesterday. Apparently, the team is standing in solidarity with Iranian women, and the protests back in their home country. It’s an important gesture that the team is making on the world biggest sporting stage, as we shouldn’t forget about the brave and courageous women of Iran who are standing up, and being murdered but the authoritarian Iranian regime, for demanding their basic human rights. This also shows that no matter how hard Qatar and FIFA try, you can’t stop all the protests.

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