Iran World Cup travel restrictions to be eased, says coach

Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team had arrived in the US less than 24 hours before kickoff against Belgium (Frederic J. Brown)Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said Saturday he has been told US travel restrictions on his World Cup team will finally be eased for their third group game, but blasted the treatment they have received so far for damaging their on-field performance.The Iranian squad arrived at the World Cup with their country still at war with co-hosts the United States, and have been based in Mexico while playing all their games in the US.

That has required frequent cross-border travel, and US authorities have only permitted the team to remain in the country for a few hours after each game, with restrictions frequently shifting last-minute.After playing Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Iran's final group game will take place in Seattle next Friday against Egypt.Ghalenoei on Saturday said he had been told his team will have more flexibility for their final match, before quickly adding that it would have been "justice" for his team to have the same treatment for its first two games."

They said in Seattle, you can do what you want, you can act the way you want to, and you can come earlier," he told a press conference, without specifying who exactly the information had come from."But what I want, my problem is, why didn't they let us come earlier for the first two games as well?"I just know for the last game, yes, they've allowed us to decide, to make our own decisions with regards to planning the travel."

But unfortunately, for the first two games, others made these travel arrangements for us, and the timing for us."Last week Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand, the tournament's lowest-ranked team, with sloppy defending twice allowing the All Whites to go ahead before Team Melli equalized."There were errors, individual ones, and also with regards to this defense we had, and I think we were playing...

we were doing too many passes," said Ghalenoei."And I think,