DOHA — US coach
Gregg Berhalter said
politics would not come into his team’s must-win World Cup clash with Iran
following the Americans’ battling draw with England on Friday.
اضافة اعلان
Berhalter was a satisfied man after watching his
youthful US team hold mighty England to a 0–0 draw at the Al-Bayt Stadium in
Group B.
The result sets up a tantalizing clash with Iran
next Tuesday when a victory for either side would guarantee a place in the last
16.
The eagerly awaited clash is a repeat of the
politically-charged 1998 World Cup game between the geopolitical foes, won 2–1
by Iran, dubbed the “Mother of all football matches”.
Berhalter however insisted that while tensions
between the US and Iranian governments remain, politics would not enter
Tuesday’s occasion.
“I’ve played in three different countries, and I
coached in Sweden, and the thing about soccer is you meet so many different
people from all around the world, and you’re united by a common love of the
sport,” Berhalter said.
“I envision the game being hotly contested for the
fact that both teams want to advance to the next round — not because of
politics or because of relations between our countries.”
“We’re soccer players and we’re going to compete and
they’re going to compete and that’s it.”
Berhalter acknowledged however that the stakes for
the game could not be higher, describing it as his team’s “first knockout game”
of the World Cup.
“We win or we’re out of the
World Cup, and that’s
going to be the focus of ours in preparing the team,” Berhalter said.
“But most of all we will need to understand the
intensity Iran’s going to bring.”
The US are currently third in Group B with two
points from two draws, trailing Iran in second, who reignited their campaign
with a 2–0 win over Wales earlier Friday.
England, who lead the group with four points, face
Wales in their final game.
That means that the US will secure a place in the knockout
rounds if they beat Iran.
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