Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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In this June 4, 2013, file photo, Iranian players celebrate after scoring the first goal during their 2014 World Cup Asian zone qualifying match between Qatar and Iran at the Al-Sadd stadium in Doha. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal, File)

Lack of match practice no deterrent for Iran

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Apr 11, 2014 | Sports

AP–Playing in a World Cup group containing Argentina, Nigeria and Bosnia was always going to be difficult, even before Iran’s lack of warm-up games factored into the equation. After qualifying last June, Iran played its first preparation game on March 5 against...

Media ID: 55330862
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Army soldiers walk beside beer crates during an operation to occupy the Mare slum complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, April 5, 2014. More than 2,000 Brazilian Army soldiers moved into the Mare slum complex early Saturday in a bid to improve security and drive out the heavily armed drug gangs that have ruled the sprawling slum for decades. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Brazil security forces raid Rio slum before World Cup

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Apr 5, 2014 | World

Rio de Janeiro, AP—More than 2,000 Brazilian soldiers stormed into a Rio de Janeiro slum complex Saturday with armored personnel carriers and helicopters in a bid to improve security two months before the start of the World Cup. As dawn broke, the heavily armed...