The Orange meets the America of former Ajax player Sergiño Dest | in the eighth finals of the World Cup 2022 Football World Cup

National coach Louis van Gaal and the Orange have been warned about the US. Americans are tough. Coach Gregg Berhalter’s team harbors a desire to attack and combines dynamism with speed. The ball circulation usually runs smoothly, the automatisms with putting pressure are ground in. ‘Team USA’ is a unit. But the US is also vulnerable. The way the Americans play is power-consuming. That was already apparent in the opening game against Wales (1-1) and also floated above against Iran. Berhalter’s selection lacks great international experience, physicality and content due to its youthfulness.

America does have talent. A slew of players are under contract with clubs from the major European leagues. Berhalter has a lot of running ability with Sergiño Dest (AC Milan), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Timothy Weah (Lille) and Antonee Robinson (Fulham).

In the team, Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) is the star player. The talent from Hershey, Pennsylvania also set the Americans on fire in the fraught duel at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha last night. The attack leader completed a smooth attack through McKennie and Dest after 38 minutes. That was also his last act. Pulisic collided with the goal on the Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. The keeper was seriously injured in the opening game of the Persian Lions, but was back under the crossbar. He now stayed on the field, Pulisic dropped out hurt.

America was better than Iran in everything in Doha before rest. Football was sometimes eye-watering. But the US couldn’t keep up the pressing and pace in the second half. The Asians also showed more guts and that started the trembling for Berhalter and co. The US eventually held its own in the Middle East. After a real stampede, with emotions running high and nine minutes of injury time.

Thus ended an absurd tournament for Iran. At a World Cup dominated by political and religious contradictions, the national team was dragged into the political arena, visibly unwillingly, in the opening game against England (6-2 loss). And the Asians never came out of that.

The cause was domestic tension. The death in September of 22-year-old woman Masha Amini, after being arrested by the vice police, sparked a popular uprising in Iran. It still continues and is brutally crushed by the regime in Tehran. Hundreds have already died and thousands have been arrested.

The Iranian footballers responded with a silent protest to all the government violence. Literal. They did not sing the national anthem against England. The regime in Tehran was furious at such disobedience. Threats to players in Qatar and family in the home country followed. And that, too, had repercussions on Iran. In the other group matches, the national hymn was sung, albeit sparsely and anything but enthusiastically.

That also happened to the US. That clash was the pinnacle of geopolitical tension. The whole world was watching. There were all kinds of pricks around the loaded duel, such as at press conferences. In the field, hostilities remained limited. The loss for Iran in Doha was painful. But ultimately more for the rulers in Tehran, with Ayatollah Khamenei, than for the football players. They gave their sporting honor at a bizarre World Cup.

Check out everything about the World Cup in Qatar herewith the latest news and the game schedule of Orange, the game schedule, the premium stories, columns, videos and podcasts.