Iran players are feeling the stress: Masoud Shojaei
Four Four Two – ST. PETERSBURG, Iran captain Masoud Shojaei said on Thursday that even Iran’s experienced players were feeling the stress of playing at the FIFA World Cup but would enjoy the tournament in Russia nonetheless.
Iran will face Morocco at the 67,000-seater St. Petersburg Stadium in their first match at the World Cup on Friday. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. Moscow time (01:00 AEST).
“A great tournament is ahead of us. Even our experienced players are feeling the stress. But as the captain I think that we can enjoy football… I am very happy to be here. We are all waiting for the first match [against Morocco] to show what we are capable of,” Shojaei told journalists.
Shojaei added that the team would do anything it takes to make Iranians proud of them.
Iran will also play 2010 World Cup champions Spain and Euro 2016 winners Portugal in Group B.