Iran coach Talebi promises fair play against U.S. team
Iran coach Talebi promises fair play against U.S. team
YSSINGEAUX, France (Reuters): Iran coach Jalal Talebi refused to be drawn into debate about the political nature of Sunday's Group F clash with the United States and promised his side would play fair.
"If you have political questions I am the wrong man, ask the politicians about those things," Talebi told reporters at a press conference, "I want to talk about football".
Despite his appeal, Talebi faced a barrage of political questions about the high profile game.
He suggested that the fans would have no extra cause for jubilation with a victory over a country their leaders once called the "Great Satan".
"If there are celebrations it will be because we have won our first game in this World Cup and not just because we beat the USA," said Talebi.
Talebi who once lived in California, repeatedly stated that his side wanted to play a "fair game and a good game".
When asked if there would be any problems with the team lining up for the U.S. national anthem, Talebi said "I guarantee there will be no problems".
He said he saw no reason why the teams couldn't exchange shirts at the end of the match.
"I don't believe that if the U.S. team wanted to change shirts that we would say no," said Talebi, "We would be glad to do it".
Talebi denied suggestions that the Iranian government were instructing his players on how to behave for the U.S. game,
Although visibly frustrated with the constant reference to off-field issues, Talebi said the huge public and media interest in the game was not distracting his players.
"I believe there are 4,000 journalists who want to come to the match which they are calling 'the mother of all games'. I am happy that so many people want to see us and that it is such a big event. That it is of course good for our country".
Talebi's reluctance to get involved in political discussion was echoed by members of the U.S. squad.
"They want three points, we want three points and we fight for the three points," said U.S. captain Tom Dooley, who hoped the match would have a positive impact on the two countries relations.
If fans saw the players exchange shirts after the game, he said they would see that "people in Iran are no different from people in Germany or America".
"If we can do something where the two nations come together, that's the whole point," said Dooley.
American coach Steve Sampson said the politics could be put aside for the match.
At 41, he is old enough to well remember the 1979 hostage crisis, when then-President Jimmy Carter embarked on a disastrous mission to rescue 52 Americans held in their embassy in Teheran.