Unfortunately, it occured not on the geopolitical stage, but on a soccer field in Germany.
NUREMBERG, Germany, June 11 — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he won’t attend one of his country’s World Cup matches unless it reaches the second round. Given Iran’s performance Sunday, it appears Ahmadinejad will be staying home.
Iran started strong and played to a tie in the first half, but succumbed completely to a Mexican onslaught in the second half and suffered a 3-1 defeat. With Portugal considered by many the favorite in Group D, and neophyte Angola a considerable underdog, this game was considered to be extremely important. This result, and Iran’s already troubling goal differential, has Mexico in great stead.
I am not following the World Cup and, in all likelihood this will be my first and only post on the games this year, but I can’t say I’m displeased to see Iran tossed out so early.
And, apparently, neither are the potential hosts of Iran’s President should the team advance:
The Holocaust is remembered in countless memorials and statues in cities all around Germany, but conversation about that period in history can be painful and uncomfortable here. So when Ahmadinejad questioned the validity of the Holocaust in a pre-World Cup interview with German magazine Der Speigel, ripples were felt. Such statements violate
German law, and when Ahmadinejad floated the prospect of watching Iran’s opener from a VIP box in Nuremberg’s Franken-Stadion, not all were enthused. The German interior minister said he would allow such a visit, but Ahmadinejad decided to wait even with the popularity of the sport in his country.
Given Ahmadinejad’s inane statements about the Holocaust, its ironic that his nation’s team went down to defeat in Nuremberg, Germany.
