Iran’s national team left a message of “peace, respect and friendship” following their scoreless draw with Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium on Monday morning.
The clash was Iran’s second game of the tournament – having drawn with New Zealand in their opening Group G encounter – and it was also their second and final game in the City of Angels.
Paro v Crocker | Wednesday June 24 from 7pm AEST | Liam Paro gets his long awaited title shot against IBF welterweight champion, Lewis Crocker, plus ex-NRL beasts collide as Nelson Asofa-Solomona faces George Burgess. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
After a build-up to the tournament marred by the war between Iran and World Cup co-host the United States of America, Iran’s players took the chance to leave behind a handwritten message of thanks in their dressing room.
“From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilised Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast,” read the message, which was released by the Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI).
“We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honour, and leave with dignity.
“Thank you Los Angeles for your hospitality.
“And thank you to every Iranian who gave their heart, voice and soul for Iran throughout these 180 minutes.
“May peace, respect and friendship prevail among all nations.”
The note also made reference to an attack on a girls’ school in Minab, which killed 168 people on the first day of the war, with “#168” and “#minab” written on the piece of paper.
In the lead-up to the tournament, several members of the Iranian team’s staff were denied entry visas into the US.
The FFIRI’s allocation of tickets was also revoked on the eve of the tournament.
As a result of the visa issues, Iran switched their base for the tournament from Arizona in the US to Tijuana in Mexico despite all their group games taking place in the US.
Iran face strict travel restrictions.
They are allowed to fly into the US a day before they have a game and have to leave the country on the same day as the match, under the conditions of their visas.
This led Iran to head coach Amir Ghalenoei labelling his side the “most oppressed” team at the tournament following the draw with New Zealand.
Iran’s final group game against Egypt will be played in Seattle on Saturday afternoon.
READ MORE
World Cup LIVE — Wild scene grinds WC to halt; outrage over moment Messi made crazy history
What Socceroos need to make World Cup knockouts as brutal new scenario emerges
Wrap — Another WC miracle as tiny nation stuns ex-champs; Kiwis rage over crucial non-call
Messi becomes all time leading scorer | 02:10
SHOULD MESSI HAVE EVEN BEEN PLAYING IN RECORD-BREAKING GAME?
Lionel Messi stunned the world on Tuesday morning by scoring twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win against Austria in Texas to break the all-time World Cup goalscoring record.
The 38-year-old has found the back of the net 18 times across six World Cups.
With a hat-trick in Argentina’s tournament opening win against Algeria, Messi matched German great Miroslav Klose’s record in men’s World Cups.
He then surpassed Brazilian icon Marta’s all-time record against Austria.
Remarkably, the 2022 World Cup champion has scored all five of his nation’s goals in the first two games of their title defence.
But he easily could have been on the sidelines this morning if the referee in the Algeria match had have booked the Argentine legend under a new rule for this tournament.
Messi’s haters were outraged on social media when he avoided being sent off for a high challenge on Algerian defender Aissa Mandi.
The pile on was added to on social media when Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player at the World Cup to be sent off for covering his mouth during his country’s 1-0 win over Turkiye.
Almiron will miss Friday’s clash with the Socceroos as a result of the referee enforcing newly introduced ‘Prestianni Law’ – named for Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni who covered his mouth during a verbal confrontation with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior – for the first time.
Once Almiron was given his marching orders, social media not only became awash with clips of the incident, but with screenshots of Messi covering his mouth in the Algeria game.
English football journalist Henry Winter was quick to point that the new law places an emphasis on the act being done in a “confrontational” manner.
All players were informed of the new regulation before the tournament – which states that a player will be sent off if they hide their mouth during a confrontation.
Messi was deemed to not be breaching the rules, however, because he was speaking to his teammates with his mouth covered after scoring his second goal in the 60th minute.
Messi seals wild WC history in stunner | 00:48
MAN CITY STAR IGNORES CRITICS OF CHOICE TO LEAVE WORLD CUP
Jeremy Doku has become a father, the Belgian football association announced Monday, days after the player’s plans to leave the World Cup to be there for the birth sparked controversy.
After consultations with medical staff, Doku was allowed to temporarily leave the Red Devils before last Sunday’s game with Iran to join his wife in London where the couple welcomed a baby boy, Praise, it said.
“Jeremy received the news before yesterday’s match that the birth was imminent,” the team’s doctor Brahim Hacene said.
Doku had already been ruled out of Sunday’s match due to illness. “As he had already been receiving the appropriate medical treatment for several days, he was able to fly without any medical risk to be with his family during this very special moment,” the doctor said.
“Mother, father, and baby are all doing wonderfully,” he added. Doku, who is to rejoin his teammates in Seattle on Tuesday, is regarded as one of the best young players in the Belgium squad, who have made a solid if unspectacular start to their campaign, drawing both their matches thus far.
The 24-year-old had made it clear before the Red Devils’ first match that he would have wanted to be there for the birth of his first child — drawing criticism from some quarters.
A presenter on L’Equipe TV, the TV channel of the historic French sports newspaper, questioned the decision saying fathers were “useless” at childbirth whereas hundreds of footballers would have killed to play in a World Cup.
The comments triggered an online storm, forcing L’Equipe to apologise and distance itself from them, the presenter has been stood down from her show.
Doku started in Belgium’s first match against Egypt but struggled to make an impact before being replaced.
The lacklustre scoreless draw against Iran in Los Angeles drew scorn from Belgian media, which lambasted the team’s performance.
Belgium, who are rebuilding after their “golden generation” showed age had caught up with them in exiting at the group stage in the 2022 World Cup, can assure themselves of progressing to the last 32 with a win over New Zealand in their final group match on Friday.
Mbappe brings up 15th WC goal in style! | 00:31
ARGENTINE STAR’S POST-GAME SHOCK
Moments after Argentina’s 2-0 victory against Austria to book their place in the Round of 32, Julian Alvarez made a public request to be sold by Atletico Madrid.
The former Manchester City forward spoke to the media post-game at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and dropped a bombshell.
“I want to fulfil my dream. I have spoken with the people at the club that I needed to speak to. The best thing for my future is a transfer,” he said.
The 26-year-old is believed to have agreed personal terms with Barcelona on a five-year contract.
The Catalan giants’ initial £86 million ($162.8m) bid was rejected by their Spanish rivals.
Atletico were reportedly looking for more than the £104m ($196.9m) they sold Antoine Griezmann to the current La Liga champions for in 2019.
But they have since released a statement saying: “There is no amount of money for which Barça can buy Julián Álvarez. He will not be transferred to Barcelona”
“Either they pay the release clause for €500m or there is no deal.”
Tensions between the two clubs heightened when Atletico took to social media to taunt Barcelona after rejecting their bid.
England winger Anthony Gordon has already joined Barcelona from Newcastle for £70m ($132.5m) this summer and are still keen on Marcus Rashford.
Rashford spent last season on loan from Man United, but Barca did not activate their £26m ($49.2m) option.
They are hoping to either get him back on loan or negotiate a lower fee.
Real Madrid also made an £130m ($246m) bid for Alvarez.
That offer was rejected, however, and Atletico again took to social media to blast their rivals.
“Official statement with our clarifications regarding the official statement from our neighbours Real Madrid,” Atleti posted on X earlier this month.
“1. They cut out the part of the Pope’s video where he said he was an Atleti fan too. 2. You must have confused education with gratitude, but to leave no doubt: we don’t thank you for anything.
“3. We neither study nor consider any offer for Julian. 4. How could we not get along, when you make us laugh even more than FC Barcelona does.”
Manchester City paid just £14m ($26.5m) to sign the World Cup and Copa America winner from Argentine giants River Plate in January 2022.
Alvarez helped City win the treble in his first season with the club and then Atletico paid around £82m ($155.2m) for him in August 2024.
City did not want to let him go, but superstar Erling Haaland was preventing him from becoming the main man under Pep Guardiola.
“There was never any kind of problem,” Alvarez said last year. “I simply told him how I felt — that I wanted more minutes in some matches where I knew I wouldn’t get them, or simply wasn’t getting them.” On Guardiola, he added: “Of course he understood.
“Players always want more minutes, they want to grow, they want to play the big moments. And if I felt I wasn’t going to have them there, he gave me the freedom to choose my path.”