Can we recover from a calamitous entry into the World Cup against a backdrop of a very heavy political context?
Yes, answers Iran.
Swept away by the English on Monday (6-2) for their entry into the running in this Qatari World Cup, the Iranians tore themselves away to scratch a deserved victory, and above all very precious against Wales by Gareth Bale on Friday (2-0).
This third success in the history of this Middle Eastern country in the competition puts it back in the race for the round of 16.
Technically superior to the Welsh, the Iranians gradually gained the upper hand before accentuating their domination in the second half.
The British, very often at the limit defensively, found themselves in numerical inferiority after the brutal exit of goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey on striker Mehdi Taremi.
The doorman, first sanctioned with a yellow, was logically expelled after appeal from Var for the first red card (84th) of this World Cup.
#beINFWC2022
#WALIRN
đŹ Wayne Hennessey completely misses his exit and sends his knee in Taremi's face!
pic.twitter.com/IenQj9wsMg
â beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) November 25, 2022
At ten, Wales folded, folded, before cracking in the eighth minute of additional time in this second period.
A poor clearance in the middle, a heavy strike from substitute Rouzbeh Cheshmi, and Iran finally took off (1-0, 90 + 8) and plunged into indescribable joy, accentuated by Ramin Rezaeian's break goal ( 90th + 11) while the Welsh had boarded.
[đșLIVE] đ #beINFWC2022 #WALIRN
đŽó §ó ąó ·ó Źó łó żđźđ· IRAN BREAK THE WELSH LOCK AT THE END OF SUSPENSE!!!
đ„ What an overpowered strike from Cheshmi!https://t.co/ybzTgUgtE4
â beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) November 25, 2022
A decisive match against the United States
The Iranians can exult and throw their Portuguese coach, Carlos Queiroz, into the air.
Here are the Gulf players at a meeting of a first participation in the round of 16.
They will now have to await the verdict of the other in the group between England and the United States this Friday (8pm), but could have to settle for a draw against the Americans in the event of a draw or victory of the English.
Iran will meet the Americans on Tuesday (8 p.m.) for this ultra-important and oh so political match.
24 years ago, during the 1998 World Cup in France, this opposition allowed the Iranians to win the first success in their history in a World Cup.
If that's not called a sign of fate...
