Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi says a combination of Persian pride and American spirit will help Iran’s national soccer team — as long as the players steer clear of politics.
Iran has been in political turmoil since the crackdown on opponents of the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009. Ghotbi, an Iran-born American, took over the national team that year to give people “hope in the darkest moments.”
