The upcoming match between Iran and the United States, Tuesday, in Qatar as part of the FIFA World Cup, brought back memories of the 1998 World Cup with scenes of mutual respect between the players of these two politically hostile countries, according to AFP.
Below, the agency monitors some of the most prominent matches, which reflected the impact of politics in the field of sports during previous World Cup tournaments.
1938.. Italy-France
In a very tense geopolitical context and in light of the outbreak that gripped Europe, France hosted the third edition of the World Cup.
On 12 June, Italy and France met in the quarter-finals at Stade Colombes (Italy won 3-1).
The Italians wore a black shirt similar to that of Mussolini’s militia, and gave a fascist salute to 60,000 spectators. The audience responded by booing during the Italian anthem.
In the eyes of the “Duce” (Mussolini’s nickname), football was a way to show the superiority of the fascist ideology. The “Nazione” went far in the competition until it won its second consecutive historic title.
1974.. the two German confrontations
On June 22, the enemy siblings of West and East Germany faced each other in Hamburg, in the west, in a crowded “Volkspark” stadium.
In the midst of the Cold War, that match embodied the tension between the two sides. However, this did not mean expected pressure, as the two sides began a normal course of relations, and signed a treaty of mutual recognition in 1972.
The endangered match ended without a hitch. East Germany triumphed against all odds, with a goal scored by Jürgen Sbarwasser in the last quarter of an hour, and it will remain in the memory forever.
But despite this, West Germany remained in the competition and won the competition it hosted, achieving its second World Cup title.
1986… Argentina-England
On June 22, Argentina and England faced off in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Mexico, four years after the Falkland Islands war, which left 649 Argentine and 255 British dead.
The atmosphere was very tense between the two elected officials, whose countries broke off diplomatic relations in 1982.
At each match of the competition, Argentine fans held banners saying “The Falkland Islands are Argentine” and sang nationalist songs calling for “killing the English”.
On the sidelines of the quarter-finals, clashes broke out between the elected ultras, resulting in dozens of injuries, which ranged from minor to serious.
Argentina won the match, thanks in large part to the genius, Diego Maradona, who then scored two goals.
The late Argentine legend admitted afterwards, “It was a final match for us. It was not about winning a match, but about eliminating the English.”
1998.. Iran-United States
During its second participation in the World Cup, Iran found itself in 1998 in the group of its archenemy, the United States, according to AFP.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been severed since the hostage-taking at the US embassy in Tehran following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
That match took place in Lyon, France, on June 21, and was an opportunity to calm down.
After performing the national anthems, the American players shook hands with their opponents and presented them with souvenirs. The Iranians responded with bouquets of white roses, before the two teams took a group photo.
The Iranians won the match at the time (2-1), recording their first World Cup victory.
2018.. Switzerland – Serbia
On June 22 in Kaliningrad, Serbia faced Switzerland, who have many players of Kosovar origin in their ranks.
Kosovo is a former province of Serbia inhabited mainly by Albanians. After ten years of conflict, which was the last war that led to the dismantling of the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo declared its independence in 2008, which was not recognized by Serbia, to worsen relations between Belgrade and Pristina.
Granit Xhaka, who was born in Switzerland to a Kosovar family, and Gerdan Shaqiri, who was born in Kosovo, scored two goals, giving Switzerland a 2-1 victory over Serbia.
The two players celebrated their goals by heading towards the Serbian fans, placing their hands on their chests oppositely, drawing the black “double eagle” badge, the symbol of Albania in the middle of its red flag, which sparked the indignation of the Serbian press, which denounced a “shameful provocation.”
The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) later punished the players by fining them 8,660 euros each.