Because of political rivalries amongst national governments that surpass sports rivalries amongst national teams, Germany caved to pressure from fellow EU member states and denied Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a visa to attend the World Cup. (Ahmadinejad has been declared persona non grata for, inter alia, vowing that Israel should be wiped off the map and asserting that the Holocaust is a myth.)
Therefore, when Iran makes it debut today against heavily-favored Mexico, Mohammed Aliabadi, one of seven Iranian vice presidents and the head of the state’s physical education organization, will head its cheering delegation, instead of Ahmadinejad who so coveted that honor for this most-watched sporting (and, evidently, political) event in the world.
NOTE: Since Ahmadinejad (far right) is almost as fanatical about soccer as he is about Islam, one can be absolutely certain that he – like people all around the world except in America where they just don’t get it – will be so glued to television broadcast of this match that his house, let alone his country, could be up in flames and he wouldn’t even notice….
ENDNOTE: I usually cheer for the underdog, but in this case, geographical prejudice compels my wish for a Mexico win; although, my sentimental favorite is Trinidad and Tobago, which came ever so close to pulling off the upset of the Cup yesterday with a spectacular draw against Sweden. (Be sure to tune-in for T&T’s next match – against old mother-country England – on 15 June at 12 noon EDT.)
Incidentally, for my friends in the U.S. and throughout the Caribbean, even if you do not understand a word of Spanish, I highly recommend your watching all World Cup matches on Univision instead of ABC. Trust me, you’ll find it a far more entertaining experience….
World Cup, Iran, Trinidad and Tobago
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Political Teenager says
The USA were very poor in their opening game. I thought Landon Donovan was meant to be good!? They lacked any creativity and there was no player willing to start off any moves.