{"id":142715,"date":"2022-11-29T08:41:25","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T08:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/world-cup-2022-briefing-iran-and-usa-head-into-the-fire-world-cup-2022\/"},"modified":"2022-11-29T08:41:25","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T08:41:25","slug":"world-cup-2022-briefing-iran-and-usa-head-into-the-fire-world-cup-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/world-cup-2022-briefing-iran-and-usa-head-into-the-fire-world-cup-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup 2022 briefing: Iran and USA head into the fire | World Cup 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The main event<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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As incredible as it seems, only 10 days into this condensed World Cup we are about to wrap up two of the groups. Which means today we get matches played simultaneously, and we might need an abacus on hand to work out group permutations, especially if the scores keep changing and swinging as rapidly as Serbia, Cameroon, South Korea and Ghana managed yesterday.<\/p>\n

In the evening Group B concludes with the highly politically charged rivalry of Iran v USA and the highly politically charged rivalry of Wales v England. Things are out of Wales’ hands. They must beat England for the first time since 1984, and hope that neither the US or Iran can conjure a win. England will progress providing they avoid a four-goal defeat, something Wales have never managed against their nearest neighbors. Surely, surely<\/em>Gareth Southgate will adjust his starting XI and give the likes of Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips some minutes?<\/p>\n

But Iran v USA is where the fire is. With Iran’s FA protesting about Team USA’s social media insulting their flag, and the political situation remaining tense in Iran amid the ongoing protests, Carlos Queiroz hardly defused the situation on Monday. While calling for less politics at the World Cup, he took a swipe at the US, saying: \u201cYou talk of human rights, racism, kids dying in schools with shootings, we have solidarity with all those causes. But here our mission is bring smiles to all people for 90 minutes.\u201d Both sides know a win will send them through. For the US, it would be their third consecutive escape from a World Cup group. For Iran, their first venture into the knockout rounds at the sixth attempt. A draw will be enough for Iran \u2013 unless Wales win. You will definitely need two screens and some strong nerves for this.<\/p>\n

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<\/svg><\/span>Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz has hardly defused the tension before the match against USA.<\/span> Photograph: Fadel Senna\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before then the Netherlands will almost certainly qualify by avoiding defeat against hosts Qatar, while Ecuador and Senegal shoot it out for second place. A draw will suffice for Ecuador, who have an identical record to the Netherlands . If they both win by identical scores, then its down to their disciplinary records \u2013 currently the Dutch sit top with one yellow card compared to Ecuador’s three. Senegal lost out on the round of 16 to Japan on fairplay in 2018 in Russia \u2013 the only time the ranking criteria has ever had to be applied before.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Qatar’s coach F\u00e9lix S\u00e1nchez has been in post since 2017 and worked in the country’s football set-up since 2006, but you imagine he is thumbing his Arabic phrase book so he can spot when the crowd starts singing \u201cyou’re getting sacked in the morning\u201d later today, assuming the hosts put up a third insipid display at their own, very expensive, party. Kick off times shift to two matches at 3pm GMT, and two matches at 7pm GMT, and that is how it will stay until the end of the group phase on Friday. MB<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\nQuick Guide<\/span><\/p>\n

Qatar: beyond the football<\/h4>\n

<\/svg><\/span>show<\/span><\/span><\/summary>\n

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This is a World Cup like no other. For the last 12 years the Guardian has been reporting on the issues surrounding Qatar 2022, from corruption and human rights abuses to the treatment of migration workers and discriminatory laws. The best of our journalism is gathered on our dedicated Qatar: Beyond the Football home page for those who want to go deeper into the issues beyond the pitch.<\/p>\n

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