Iran overcomes its divisions for 90 minutes, then same old problems return

Support in LA included those of past and present regimes, and opponents of both, but a match that captivated all could not dissolve troubles Soccer unites. This is what we are told. It swoops in, majestic in the players’ grace, and gives a people – any people – a thing to rally around in good times and bad. It’s true, that does happen on occasion. But other times, as in Monday’s 2-2 draw between Iran and New Zealand here in southern California, the magic of this ridiculously simple game lies in its power to make one, or several, or several thousand, forget. Before the game, Iranians worldwide

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