The media that is triggered though is all regime affiliated. They aren't friends of the players who have been told that if they don't behave their families will be imprisoned and tortured. Tyler Adams handled the question well, but for situational awareness the person who asked this question comes from #Iran’s PressTV which was just sanctioned by the EU for producing and broadcasting forced confessions of detainees in Iran. pic.twitter.com/peCv1iRHdc— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) November 29, 2022 The families of Iran’s World Cup soccer team have been threatened with imprisonment and torture if the players fail to “behave” ahead of the match against the USA on Tuesday, a source involved in the security of the games tells @kileycnn— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) November 28, 2022 The protestors in Iran have been specifically calling for people outside Iran to show solidarity for the protestors. Pretty much everything that is being done in both the US and Canada is specifically about calling attention to what's happening in Iran and criticizing the actions of the regime. Prior to the World Cup there were calls for the US, Wales, and England players to pretend to cut their hair if they scored a goal as this is something that woman are doing in Iran as part of protests (and other Iranian athletes have simulated). Criticizing the Iranian government is what they've been asked to do. The main issue is that it was done without consulting the State Department, Berhalter, or the US players. Berhalter and Tyler Adams were put in the position of having to answer for something that they weren't consulted on. Then there's also the question of whether this was the best way of showing solidarity or if some other action were better. But as someone who is Iranian American, I feel very confident this is not the sort of thing that will provide any sort of additional motivation the Iranian players (who will already be plenty motivated).
You don't want to provide the opposition any fuel, even if they should already be 100% engaged in the contest. So the USSF choosing to misrepresent the Iranian flag was just lame. The players and staff didn't ask for it. Herdman's comment about Croatia likely changed nothing, although the Croatians sure loved sticking it to him. I thought the naivete of Canada showed in this tournament. Gotta get that first one out of the way in order to be better prepared for the next one. Canada got outcoached and outplayed in that game. Which isn't a shock..................they're the #7 team in the world for a reason. But hell, this is Canada's first World Cup in a helluva long time. Enjoy it!!! One of the nasty parts of the World Cup is how quickly its over. You invest enormous emotional energy as a fan for two years of a cycle..............and poof its over.
He was super impressive and he's been getting a ton of plaudits from Iranian activists. Qatar is in bed with the Islamic Republic. IR state media & agents have not only been persecuting #WomanLifeFreedom protesters at the @FIFAWorldCup, but attacking anyone supporting the people of Iran in the press conferences. Classy response, @tyler_adams14! https://t.co/RjqdH1Ugnb— Nazanin Boniadi (@NazaninBoniadi) November 29, 2022
I think it's some kind of sports-psychology trick. Find some way the other team is disrespecting you and your team. I think it's much better to be in that mental space where you want revenge for a slight than to just get up for a team you like. Michael Jordan used to play golf with Knicks players the day before Bulls-Knicks playoff games.
Props to Tyler for biting his lip on the criticism for calling it I-RAN instead of E-RON. I love England’s attitude of not even trying to pronounce latin stuff correctly. They would just smirk if the press called them out for saying Jay-zus Ferreria.
I guaranty that the Iranian reporter doesn't use the English pronunciation when referring to the US in his native language.
Sure, enough. But Herdman, in the heat of the moment, was trying to motivate his team. Our federation, on the other hand, deliberated before offending and provoking. The decency and class of Adams cleaned up the mess. But there never should have been a mess. I'm not Tony Soprano, but I give Herdman a pass. But I sanction the metaphorical hit on our fed. Come on, huh?
Herdman sounds like he definitely wants to come back for next cycle https://theathletic.com/3952364/2022/11/30/john-herdman-canada-soccer-future/
He's earned it. Although...............maybe he'll want the day-to-day challenge of club soccer. I'm sure there will be opportunities there as well. Pretty amazing the extent to which American fans complement Herdman and criticize Berhalter. Meanwhile its Berhalter holding the Gold Cup and Nations League trophies. Its Berhalter that's in the knockout round of the World Cup. I get it. It's about expectations. But still.....................
He's never coached at the club level. He was a development coach in Sunderland's youth academy until 2001 when he moved to New Zealand. It'd be interesting to see how his style would translate to the day to day grind of professional club soccer. He's been a national team coach since 2006. IMO both Canada and the US should hire new coaches for the 2026 World Cup. Both could use a different approach/view to build upon the successes each had this cycle.
I think if Carlo Ancelotti‘s rumored interest in the Canada job is true, you at least explore that. But otherwise you keep Herdman. Canada doesn’t have a ton to pay to attract a new coach, and Herdman has shown he can do the job. Of Hugo Perez would also be a very interesting hire as Canada coach (or Mexico for that matter).
Carlo would have had a....let's say a different approach to the Croatia game. Definitely would not have tried to press them the entire game..... On the one hand, it's admirable and brave, yet on the other it's naive at best and hubris at worst. I did not understand their approach to that game after the first 1015 minutes. They didn't play that way against the US or Mexico in qualifying. Neither the US nor Mexico is on the level of this Croatian team. They needed to get at least a draw to be in a position to have a chance to get out of the group. If Berhalter approached a WC game this way....he'd be getting unmercilessly crucified. Maybe their performance against Belgium went to Herdman's head? A lot of folks are overlooking that this Belgium team....is largely the same team from the 2014 WC....KDB is in his prime, the rest of that team is past it, and they've looked like a team that's older and slow, and has weaknesses it can't cover up with young offensive talent like in previous tournaments.
One major difference is Canada doesn't overhype young guys with a miligram of talent (I'll use metric) as being "superstars" like the US does with Pulisic and other below average scrubs. Canadian soccer media isn't cringy or inducing ridicule like the USSF/MLS or clueless windbags like Lalas, Matt Doyle, Herc Gomez, or sometimes Twellman. That's why Davies wasn't considered world class until he broke out at Bayern and David and Buchanan were completely unknown until recently.
I'll never understand why Herdman set the team up the way he did against Croatia. As you say it's not like that was how they played in qualifying, and the style they played in qualifying very much worked for them. Belgium got old. Even before the tournament, KDB was quoted saying he thought they were too old a team to win the World Cup. They're sort of between generations and they aren't the team they were at the last two World Cups. Canada still played great against them and very much deserved a result, but the approach against Croatia was a bit naive from Herdman. And coming from a guy who hasn't really set a foot wrong since he took over this team.
Canada showed a lot of naivete at this tournament. Canada fighting to avoid being the worst team in the event. Only two teams have no points: Qatar and Canada. Right now they're better than Qatar on goal difference, but let's see how this game progresses. They did so well against Belgium, but since then its been a mess. Morocco ain't chopped liver, though. They have talented players. This is the way the World Cup is. Everybody is good. You don't get Trinidad & Tobago at home in the World Cup. The gap between success and failure is razor thin. Mexico got four points and everybody is fired. Martino is already gone. If Canada retains Herdman after this, are they admitting that they were just happy to be here in 2022?
There are other issues as well -- guys like Atiba & Vitoria showed their age, and Larin's lack of time at striker for his club. Same with the Eustaquio injury. All those were killers.But the big story is those first two points.— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) December 1, 2022