Monday, June 16, 2014

Rohani Watching Soccer

It had to end sometime. The steady stream of goals and entertainment in Brazil was going to run dry at some point, and no-one will be particularly surprised that it happened in Curitiba’s Arena da Baixada between these two nations on Monday night.


The first draw of the World Cup – and a goalless one at that – leaves Bosnia and Herzegovina even more likely to qualify from Group F behind favourites Argentina if they can avoid defeat to Nigeria in Cuiaba on Saturday.

The reigning African champions knew that this was arguably their best chance of a first World Cup win in eight attempts going back to 1998 when Iran also celebrated their solitary victory over the USA, but neither did enough in a disappointing encounter.
Iran had arrived at the World Cup with more clean sheets than any other qualifier, although it has to be pointed out that their opponents on the road to Brazil included Maldives, Qatar and Lebanon.