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Iran were left heartbroken after a stoppage-time winner was ruled out by VAR before they hit the crossbar, while Egypt reached the World Cup knockouts for the first time.
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi (9) collapses onto the ground at the end of the World Cup Group G match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle (AP)
Iran’s FIFA World Cup dream is hanging by a thread.
A dramatic 1-1 draw against Egypt ended devastatingly for Team Melli, while the Pharaohs celebrated a historic place in the knockout stage for the first time.
Iran thought they had found a dramatic winner in the 93rd minute, only for VAR to rule the goal offside. Three minutes later, they struck the crossbar, agonisingly missing one final chance to snatch automatic qualification.
The final whistle brought heartbreaking scenes. Iran’s players collapsed across the pitch, some standing motionless, others slumped to the turf or lying flat on the grass as teammates and staff tried to console them. Goalscorer Ramin Rezaeian was among several players in tears, while head coach Amir Ghalenoei sat alone in the dugout, staring blankly into the distance.
The draw, combined with Belgium’s emphatic 3-0 victory elsewhere in Group G, left Iran in third place with three points. Their hopes of reaching the round of 32 now depend on results elsewhere.
How can Iran still qualify?
Iran’s World Cup fate is no longer in its own hands, but qualification remains possible.
They currently sit sixth in the ranking of the tournament’s best third-placed teams, with eight teams advancing to the knockout stage. With three groups still to conclude, Iran need at least one remaining third-placed side to finish with a worse record.
Iran end the group stage with three points, a goal difference of zero and three goals scored.
One straightforward scenario would see Iran qualify if Argentina defeat Algeria. Other groups present more complex permutations. For instance, Ghana would need to beat Croatia while Panama avoid defeating England by more than three goals.
For now, all Iran can do is wait and hope results elsewhere fall in their favour.
Egypt Script History
While Iran were left devastated, Egypt celebrated a landmark achievement.
Already assured of qualification before kick-off, the Pharaohs secured second place in Group G with the draw and reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time — 92 years after making their tournament debut in 1934.
Saber scored Egypt’s only goal after being set up by Mohamed Salah, and the result booked a last-32 meeting with Group D runners-up Australia in Dallas.
Egypt and Belgium became the latest teams to book their places in the knockout rounds, with 28 of the 32 spots now filled.
About the Author
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His…Read More
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