Silent Lonesome Man

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification in Asia is only a few weeks away before the final showdown. Out of 47 Asian states, only the last 12 nations will be there. Yet, the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification may be even more to see, not just because of football, but also outside elements. These issues are more relevant in two nations, which, ironically, have to play in two different yet familiar groups: Iran and China. With the announcement of Iran in group A and, earlier, China in group B, of the last phase of qualification, it would have been fine for someone who doesn't pay attention to football, or soccer if you are North Americans. Yet the draws have put Iran and China into two trajectory groups that will, instead, unite them with their increasingly heated enemies of the past. This made the sentiment increasingly uneasy yet necessary to speak out. Iran We start with group A, where Iran, the second-highest ranked team in Asia, will battle South Korea, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and...

When Iran advanced to the final phase of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification in the Asian zone, there is a lot of optimism when Iran was drawn into a group that also includes South Korea, the UAE, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. Many Iranians are hoping to make its third consecutive World Cup appearance, but with the way how Iran demonstrated in the second round, and further past, it is something to take concerns rather than any celebration. It should be. Iran finished top of their group D at the second phase, ahead of Iraq and Bahrain. But Iran's performance was not consistent, it was drowned twice by Bahrain and Iraq, floundered in third place with a nervous warning sign of an early elimination. At that time, Iran was led by Belgian manager Marc Wilmots. After Wilmots was fired, Iran appointed Croatian Dragan Skočić as coach, and he temporarily solved these problems well. But if this is new for many Iranians and new-era football fans, perhaps older memories may indicate Iran is not as...