On Monday last, I went to watch Iran -v- Nigeria with London's Iran fans.
The fans had gathered in an upstairs room of the Henry Holland pub, right by Selfridges. I had found out about it via a Facebook group Iranian Students in UK.
Now, as it turned out, this match was tiresomely boring. A nil all draw does not an interesting match make. But the Iranian fans were much more entertaining, singing, chanting, flag waving, even a little dancing.
Watching Iran-v-Nigeria with around 40 Iran fans in a bar in Marylebone #IRN #WorldCupLDN pic.twitter.com/GQyzVvqN53
— Adrian (@acediscovery) June 16, 2014
Happily they're all chanting "eee-ran! eee-ran!" over that vuvuzuela. You can't beat a football chant.
— Adrian (@acediscovery) June 16, 2014
Someone here is chanting 'in-go-lay, in-go-lay'. I presume this means 'please score a goal and make this game interesting'.
— Adrian (@acediscovery) June 16, 2014
The event wasn't as big a family affair as the Colombia match I watched - it being organised by students, I guess - but there was a little baby there, playing a little football and mildly oblivious the sport on the screen.
Most of the Iran fans here seem to be students. The Iran student look: jet black, super-quiffed hair and big dark-rimmed glasses.
— Adrian (@acediscovery) June 16, 2014
There was definitely a man with a plan, a guy in charge - he had a vuvuzuela and he wasn't afraid to use it.
The chap leading the chanting is wearing a Brazil cap, England hoodie + is draped in an Iranian flag. <3
— Adrian (@acediscovery) June 16, 2014
A blonde woman in a brown suit has just arrived. She's blowing her whistle very enthusiastically.
— Adrian (@acediscovery) June 16, 2014
Full-on chant-a-thon here with the Iranian fans. Sadly still nothing doing in the goal department.
— Adrian (@acediscovery) June 16, 2014
With the match limping to the draw, the Iran fans kept on singing, happily accepting the score. They certainly made watching the match more memorable.
The Iran fans are chanting, but it's all pretty sedate so far. https://t.co/ugmtPB3yO1
— Adrian (@acediscovery) June 16, 2014
Iran-v-Nigeria with London's Iranian fans: lively and loud and they seemed happy with the draw! #IRN pic.twitter.com/RXBkcwqwNh
— Adrian (@acediscovery) June 16, 2014
Next up: Sunday's Algeria -v- South Korea match, with Algerian fans.
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