And no soup for you Iran. I admire the Iranian players. I'm not unhappy to know that their results will make a certain someone in Tehran very unhappy.
I guess we won't be hearing about how a halo surrounded the Iranian team and how Allah has designated them for victory.
I hate when that happens. :)
Several players are Christians in the Iranian team, surprisingly.
I think deep down the rulers in Iran are relieved. I don't think they really care about soccer, but it is a concession on their part, since the country has long been passionate about it. I'm sure they would ban it as a "decadent, Western game" if they could.
Plus an Iranian win would put people in the streets and could trigger off demonstrations against the regime. I think Ahmanenejad is privately breathing a sigh of relief.