Iran: U.S. proposes friendly in Tehran

Cool , I hope we get to play the Iranians! I think the last time we played them was in FIFA World cup 98? We lost to them 2-1 or something like that? If we do play them , what's more likely? For them to play in the U.S or us playing in Iran? If we play them here in America, the score will be 3-0. If Iran then 1-1 draw.

 

are they insane? Can we keep the USMNT out of politics?

 

This place will suck.

 

Why? It would be good preparation for the World Cup.

 

I think we played Iran to a 1-1 draw in 2000 or 2001 in a friendly at the Rose Bowl. I think it is a genius move by US Soccer. What better place to get ready for the World Cup than a possible hostile crowd in Tehran. The Nats need the experience. Screw politics.

 

Would it be safe preparation though?

 

This will be epic...and if our players are treated anywhere near what our wrestling team was treated like several years back, our boys will be treated very well indeed.

Even an old geezer like me understands...Iranian government, one thing...Iranian people...something else entirely.

 

Why would it be unsafe?

 

It'd be great if it happens.

 

This is a great time to play Iran and get revenge for 1998. The Iran NT is weaker than it has been in a long time, they are on the verge of being eliminated from the WC and they change coaches more often then Newcastle United these days. Will this be a home or away match btw?

 

Tehran would make it away.

BTW, refusing to play Iran would be putting politics in front of soccer.

Playing the match would NOT be. And it might do some good to boot.

 

Possibly not. BUT suprising as it may seem, I am worried more about the security in South Africa during the Confederations and World Cup than I am about Tehran. Besides, this is great preparation for the World Cup.

BTW--Iran is mortal, as South Korea have shown. I would love a US away win here and wipe that smug grin off of Ahmadinejad's mug, who will no doubt be in the audience.

 

Iran's current coach is actually a U.S. citizen (I saw a video feature about him on BBC not too long ago) so it's possible that he is pushing for this game, too.

Iran asks Iranian-American to salvage cup bid

You can find the link to the BBC video in the article.

 

only if we can get Andy Samberg to play at halftime.
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/iran-so-far/169811/

 

IIRC, the coach from their 98 team lived in San Jose as well. I don't see this as a political match. A chance to play at a venue like the Azadi is something you shouldn't pass up.

 

There is an easy way to see if the Iranians are somewhat serious about this as a sporting event, or are just trying to use it as a ploy in their chess match with the West: make sure Bornstein and Feilhaber are named to the team.
It they balk at that, then it is just a ploy.

 

And if they call our bluff?

 

Why should it be a bluff? If they refuse us the freedom to bring the American players of our choice, then we should simply not play them.

And if you meant by "calling our bluff' that they would not protest at naming Jewish players, then we should play those players and enjoy MadJads discomfort as a bonus to what would be probably an intense match.

 

Hadn't thought of that ...

Iirc, doesn't Feilhaber have US and Israeli Citizenship? Dunno about Bornstein, though...

 

They won't balk at Jewish members of our team, the balk would potentially come if someone came to the game via an Israeli passport.

 

Besides, what better situation to give both Bornstein and Feilhaber a rollout than in a friendly?

 

The Iranian government would ensure their safety. They would not want to be embarrassed globally.

 

They have in the past, you know. And they have been open to travel on Israeli passports by certain friendly groups in Israel. It is not "Israel" that MadJad uses when he gets a'speechifyin in Tehran, warming up the crowd in his indomitable manner. He has a more particular term. So nothing may happen, or something may. But there is precedent.

 

Of course, as a trial match for the pressures of the WC, it would be great. Instead of Brucie's "stay at home" prep before the 2006 disaster, maybe Bradley could impress us all and set a Tehran-Beijing-Moscow-Pyongyang tour for the USMNT in the lead up to SA. It sure would cut down on the chances of our players starting their first match, as we did against the Czechs, shaking in their boots at the scope of it all