Iran seek knockout berth as coach Amir Ghalenoei avoids Pride celebration debate
Iran aim to make their nation proud against Egypt with a place in the World Cup knockout stages on the line, coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Thursday, while refusing to be drawn into the debate over the Pride celebrations surrounding the match.
Iran will look to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages when they face Egypt on Friday, with coach Amir Ghalenoei insisting his side are focused solely on football and refusing to be drawn into the debate surrounding the Pride celebrations planned for the match.
Team Melli have battled to back-to-back draws against Belgium and New Zealand, leaving them with an outside chance of topping Group G despite travel disruptions that forced the squad to enter and leave the United States shortly before and after their matches.
The United States has eased travel restrictions ahead of the Egypt clash, although Iran's football federation said on Wednesday that officials had still "caused problems" during the team's journey from their base in Mexico for the Group G encounter.
Ghalenoei admitted the earlier restrictions had taken a toll on his players but believes the team are now in a better position physically.
"The previous travel restrictions physically affected us," Ghalenoei told reporters on Thursday. "Now we are fitter and we are in a better position."
He added that being allowed to enter the United States earlier before the match was something Iran should have been granted from the start.
"It was our right, which we should have had in the two previous games," he said.
The build-up to Friday's fixture has also been dominated by discussions over local organisers designating the match in Seattle as a "Pride Match."
Before Ghalenoei's press conference began, a FIFA official read out a statement from the Football Federation of Iran, informing reporters that the coach would only answer questions relating to the match against Egypt.
Although Ghalenoei raised the issue of travel restrictions himself, he repeatedly declined to engage with questions about the Pride celebrations, echoing the stance taken earlier by Egypt coach Hossam Hassan.
"We are going to be positive," Ghalenoei said. "We are not going to think about any other issues. We seek to bring joy to our people."
"Our entire focus is going to be on tomorrow's game and succeeding in tomorrow's game," he added. "We only want to speak about football, what a beautiful game it is and how enjoyable it is going to be."
With a place in the last 32 still within reach, Iran know victory over Egypt would cap an impressive group-stage campaign despite the challenges they have faced off the pitch.
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Iran will look to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages when they face Egypt on Friday, with coach Amir Ghalenoei insisting his side are focused solely on football and refusing to be drawn into the debate surrounding the Pride celebrations planned for the match.
Team Melli have battled to back-to-back draws against Belgium and New Zealand, leaving them with an outside chance of topping Group G despite travel disruptions that forced the squad to enter and leave the United States shortly before and after their matches.
The United States has eased travel restrictions ahead of the Egypt clash, although Iran's football federation said on Wednesday that officials had still "caused problems" during the team's journey from their base in Mexico for the Group G encounter.
Ghalenoei admitted the earlier restrictions had taken a toll on his players but believes the team are now in a better position physically.
"The previous travel restrictions physically affected us," Ghalenoei told reporters on Thursday. "Now we are fitter and we are in a better position."
He added that being allowed to enter the United States earlier before the match was something Iran should have been granted from the start.
"It was our right, which we should have had in the two previous games," he said.
The build-up to Friday's fixture has also been dominated by discussions over local organisers designating the match in Seattle as a "Pride Match."
Before Ghalenoei's press conference began, a FIFA official read out a statement from the Football Federation of Iran, informing reporters that the coach would only answer questions relating to the match against Egypt.
Although Ghalenoei raised the issue of travel restrictions himself, he repeatedly declined to engage with questions about the Pride celebrations, echoing the stance taken earlier by Egypt coach Hossam Hassan.
"We are going to be positive," Ghalenoei said. "We are not going to think about any other issues. We seek to bring joy to our people."
"Our entire focus is going to be on tomorrow's game and succeeding in tomorrow's game," he added. "We only want to speak about football, what a beautiful game it is and how enjoyable it is going to be."
With a place in the last 32 still within reach, Iran know victory over Egypt would cap an impressive group-stage campaign despite the challenges they have faced off the pitch.
FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | Football News
