Iranian protest, English unity, playfulness; 117 minute match – FIFA World Cup 2022: Clinical England beat Iran; Correspondence Analysis

The second day of the FIFA World Cup belonged to England. The Three Lions defeated Iran by 6-2 spreading the message of ‘kneeling’ before the game to spread the message of the inclusion of all parts of society. Iran had no answer when they were equal parts agility and precision on the field.

Although the game was a bad one, it must be assumed that the Iranian players also managed to deliver a political message. Iranian players remained silent during the national anthem as a continuation of widespread protests against their country’s regime.

Popular protests against the country’s repressive regime have intensified since the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was arrested by Iran’s morality police in September for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code. During this period, the football team’s protest would cause the matter to receive more public attention.

At the same time, it cannot be assumed that all political positions are accepted without opposition. Seven teams, including England, dropped their move to wear the One Love armband after FIFA’s rebuke on Monday.

The captains of seven European football teams have decided to wear rainbow armbands (One Love) to spread the message about LGBTQ rights in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal. Teams from Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland were ready for this effort along with England.

England’s young side gives hope

With the advent of satellite television and broadcasting of the English Premier League, the English football team had a following in India in the late nineties. It should be assumed that the presence of a global celebrity such as David Beckham also led to it.

However, football fans who supported England were always disappointed on the world stage. It has been normal for England to go through the first round with a bang and often exit in the quarter-finals.

Waves of change have begun to be seen at the 2018 World Cup. Gareth Southgate formed a young team under the leadership of Harry Kane. England were knocked out in the semi-final by Croatia, and two years later, England reached the final of the Euro tournament. Now in the first match in Qatar, a stunning victory as a warning to the opponents.

The 117-minute match between England and Iran created a record. The longest World Cup match in the group stage. An injury to Iran’s goalkeeper in the first half led to 14 minutes of stoppage time being allowed in the first half. It was 13 minutes into the second half.