Beijing time (CEST), June 27 — FIFA World Cup Group Stage, Group G Matchday 3: Egypt 1-1 Iran. After the match, Iran forward Mehdi Taremi spoke to media in the mixed zone.

First, how do you feel about the dramatic ending of this match?

It's unfortunate, I'm sad, but we still have hope. People always have hope. We had good energy in the dressing room after the match. So let's see what happens next. We're looking forward to tomorrow's match and to see what the result will be.

Do you know if you have to return to Tijuana tonight?

Yes, we have to go back. We've been complaining about these things since the beginning.

This is a very bad FIFA World Cup. I mean, FIFA should have sorted out every problem here, but unfortunately, they failed to do so from the start.

Infantino came to our training facility during our first match and said this was just the beginning. But tomorrow the group stage ends, and our logistics staff aren't here — they don't have visas.

How is it that we always have to travel to Tijuana? We love the Mexican people, we love Tijuana, it's amazing there, they're very humble, we love them.

But as professional players in a professional competition, this is not right. Yes, that's our opinion. Because now we have to go to Tijuana again. No recovery time, nothing — this isn't fair. We don't think it's fair. If FIFA thinks this is fair, okay, good luck to them. But it's not fair.

Who wants to help us? If they want us to qualify, then help us. Let us qualify. But this isn't fair. We don't have recovery time. We also don't have our logistics staff here to support us. What else can we say? We've complained about these things, but nobody is helping. Nobody.

You just complained about travel issues. Now, in two consecutive matches, VAR has ruled out goals by just a few centimeters. After watching the replays, what's your opinion on VAR disallowing two of your goals in two matches?

That's a football-related issue. But what we're complaining about are the non-football issues, because these details are also important in football. You know, recovery is crucial, small details can affect a football match.

Yes, we just... we have hope, like I said, we have good energy in the dressing room. We'll keep looking forward and see what happens in tomorrow's match.

Sorry, I can't ask for anything more from this match, because in this situation from start to finish, we've given our best effort for 90 minutes. We're proud of ourselves. If anything goes wrong, it's my responsibility because I failed to convert the penalty. If the team can advance from the group stage, then alhamdulillah.

Do you think someone wants Iran to leave this tournament as soon as possible? Do you think it would be more comfortable for FIFA and US authorities if Iran weren't competing? And you as a team have to fight against all this?

We have to fight everything here. I don't know if people think that way, but from our perspective, yes, I think they like it that way.

How is it possible? You play for 90 minutes under so much pressure, and then we have to travel back. Imagine if we advance from the group stage tomorrow, we're lucky, we qualify, but we have no recovery time — how is that possible?

Can you clarify? Are you disappointed with this FIFA World Cup?

No, we've done our best. We will always do our best. We fight for our people. We want them to be happy, to bring them joy. We want to send a message of peace to the people inside Iran, outside Iran, to FIFA, to everyone.

But what others are giving us is not peace. Who will help us solve these problems? Who? FIFA? I don't know. The US? I don't know. Who? Give me a name.

Could Infantino do more to solve these problems?

Like I said, Infantino came to our first match and said he would solve all the problems here. But in reality, nothing has been done.

Our logistics staff aren't here. Look, we don't have our media team — where is our media team? You can check, there's no media here. None. We don't know where the equipment manager is. Nobody. There's nobody. Where are the vice president and president? Where are these people?

How much would you like to be able to stand here and only talk about what happened on the football pitch, without discussing all these issues off the field?

On the football pitch? You mean this match? No, we have strength. Like you saw, we played very well. I think we fought hard for 90 minutes — that was perfect. Yes, because of some small details, we couldn't win the match.

But we're here, we're here, we want to show ourselves. Like I said, we want to bring joy to our people. But I mean, small details affect the match, recovery time is important, a clear mind is important, but we don't have a clear mind here.

You've spoken about various situations. I want to ask — this match has been called the "Battle of Pride," and there's been a lot of discussion about it. How does this factor affect you?

In our religion, our religion doesn't accept this. But we respect all LGBT communities. That's their choice, it has nothing to do with us. We're here to play football. We respect all these people. If you have questions about the match, I'll answer them.

Can you talk about your relationship with your teammates in the dressing room? There's a video online of you speaking to the whole team. Tell us about your relationship with them and your desire to continue this journey together.

Taremi's motivation before the match: Don't have a weak mentality against big stars, clear your mind and run with all your strength

Yes, we hope to continue our journey. We have great energy internally, but we also have to talk about external circumstances. We have to speak about these things because we can't always keep them to ourselves. Some people don't like us, but we feel that's wrong.

I think we have great energy, positive energy, in our dressing room. We will keep moving forward. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

Last question. Given everything you've experienced, what would it mean for Iranian football to reach the knockout stage?

My friend, honestly, we came here to make history. We're pursuing this goal. We're doing everything for it.

I don't know what else to say. Let's just wait and see what happens tomorrow. If our dream comes true, alhamdulillah; if not, I think we're also proud of our performance, proud of our players. Because of everything we've done over these three matches, we're proud. Let's see what happens.

A message to FIFA.

FIFA is doing their best. We know they also have some problems they can't solve, as you know.

But football should not be part of politics. It shouldn't be. That's what we want, that's the message we want to leave. That's all.

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