Iran coach after late VAR call: 'Used to think we were an oppressed team, but we are also an unlucky team' - ESPN

SEATTLE — Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei lamented both the conditions his team have had to face in this tournament and the bad luck they encountered in the dying minutes of their 1-1 draw with Egypt, as they had a goal disallowed for a tight offside and saw Saeid Ezatolahi's header rocket off the crossbar in injury time.

Iran, who had their base camp moved from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of the tournament amid the country's war with the co-hosting United States, came into the game knowing a win would have seen them qualify for the knockout rounds as runners-up in Group G behind Belgium.

— Marcotti: Iran face wait over World Cup future, as fate intervenes again vs. Egypt

In a tense match in Seattle, Iran's Shoja Khalilzadeh thought he had scored perhaps the most famous goal in Iranian history as he shot beyond Mostafa Shobeir in the 93rd minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside owing to the fact the front half of his foot had strayed just beyond the line of the last defender.

Khalilzadeh ripped his shirt off before being mobbed by the entire Iran team and then emerged from the group sporting a pair of novelty sunglasses after he had seemingly given his side a 2-1 lead. For a few joyous moments, Iran were convinced they had advanced to the knockout round at the World Cup for the first time.

However, the late VAR intervention saw Egypt advance past the group stage for the first time in their history.

Iran, meanwhile, will have to wait one day to find out whether they will qualify for the knockout rounds as one of the best performing third-placed teams. Egypt will play Australia in the round of 32.

«There are rules and it's all based on technology, I accept that,» Ghalenoei told a news conference. «But I am