The Closest of Calls
Ultimately, Iran allowed their World Cup hopes to be determined by the closest of calls. A winning goal against Egypt by Shojae Khalilzadeh was ruled out for offside.
Another winner by Taremi against Belgium was ruled out for offside. Taremi’s missed penalty and Saeid Ezatolahi’s header off the crossbar, both against Egypt.
“For a few centimeters, five centimeters, 10 centimeters, 30 centimeters, not even a meter, these goals were ruled out,” lamented head coach Amir Ghalenoei.
“I’m just unhappy and upset at the bad luck.”
One would think a team with this much experience would know better.
Iran were the second-oldest team at this World Cup, with the most players aged 30-plus of any side.
This was a generation of players who hoped to advance to the knockout round for the first time in Iran’s history.
Instead, their legacy will be even more heartbreak.
“I do not understand what is wrong with our football,” said player Ramin Rezaeian.
“At the end, [I am] just apologizing to my people in Iran, because they deserve more happiness.”
Perhaps they simply did not have the energy to attack.
After all, their World Cup had been a “disaster,” striker Taremi said on Friday, once again remarking about the injustice of being made to leave a match on match night.
“We don’t have [a chance to do] recovery, we don’t have any logistics people here to help us,” said Taremi.
“We always complain about these things, but no one helps. No one.”
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On Saturday, the help also failed to come on the field.
