While Egypt clearly takes first place as the most Biblical nation in this World Cup, the runner up is equally certain - Iran. In English translations it is generally called Persia and it figures in many later parts of the Old Testament.
One Bible Book is set entirely in Iran - the Book of Esther. And one of the Bible's most famous stories also happened at least within its Empire - Daniel's deliverance in the lions' den.
The Iranian National Team have, as their most common nickname, the Lions. This is very suitable because historically - and not just via Daniel - Persia was closely associated with the lions that populated its vast and wild countryside.
The Iranian National Team have, as their most common nickname, the Lions. This is very suitable because historically - and not just via Daniel - Persia was closely associated with the lions that populated its vast and wild countryside.
Today, apart from the odd zoo, there are no Persian lions in Persia. The only wild population of them is found in a Reserve in India. It is a sad story replicated over so many species of large animals.
God shut the mouths of the lions one night in the Persian Empire. But in the end the human beings of Persia and elsewhere have brought the Asiatic lions to the brink of extinction. The world is a poorer place when the only living expression of a lion is on the banners supporting a football team: the World Cup, we note again, is not the answer to everything.
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