So yesterday, on my personal page, I posted a story at the Daily Mail:
I watched a video of the shootout in question and the Iranian Goalkeeper is clearly a man. I thought the story was funny insomuch as Iran was trying to hide a man in a hajib.
I didn't give the story much of a second thought, then today, when I got home from work, the headlines at the Daily Mail screamed:
I AM A WOMAN: "I am a woman, this is bullying from Jordan."
So let me get this straight for my own sanity.
Between 1991 and 2007, Iran didn't even enter the Women's World Cup.
Then between 2011 and 2019, Iran didn't qualify for the Women's World Cup.
Between 1996 and 2008, Iran didn't even enter the Olympics in Women's Soccer.
Then between 2012 and 2020, Iran didn't qualify for the Olympics in Women's Soccer.
Between 1975 and 2008, Iran didn't even enter AFC's Women's Asian Cup.
Then between 2010 and 2018, Iran didn't qualify for the AFC's Women's Asian Cup.
In 2022, Iran qualifies for their first major tournament in Women's soccer behind the world class goal tending of Zohreh Koudaei.
Zohreh Koudaei, who appeared out of the ether at age 32, looking like the Persian Hope Solo, claims she played for Iran in 2008 and 2010.
Now I believe that there was, in fact, a woman named Zohreh Koudaei who played for Iran between 2008 and 2010, but it wasn't the person on the video yesterday.
If you google the 2021 Iranian National Women's Soccer team, their starting goalkeeper, Maryam Yektaei, moved to Turkey and currently plays for the Beşiktaş J.K.'s women's team. Also listed on the goalkeeping depth chart are Zahra Khajavi, Arefeh Seyedkazemi, and Raya Yazdani.
So if the Iranians are to be believed, they pulled their, at least, fifth string goalie, out of semi-retirement, in a must win game, to advance in a tournament they have never qualified for?
Very, very, very doubtful.
The goalie for Iran was a man, using Zohreh Koudaei's name, to advance in the Women's Asian Cup. The only mystery to me is, when did Iran start caring about winning games in Women's Soccer?