5/21/2006
Farhad Pouladi, AFP

TEHRAN – Iran skipper Ali Daei believes the Asian powerhouses' contingent of German-based stars can lead his team into an unprecedented second round World Cup spot.

"Fortunately, many of our players are playing in the Bundesliga. So we are quite ready and accustomed in playing in Germany with no anxiety," said Daei, the world's top international scorer with 119 goals.

Currently Ali Karimi, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Freydoun Zandi and Vahid Hashemian play in Germany with Bayern Munich, Hamburg, Hanover and Kaiserslaturn respectively.

Another top Iranian player, Rahman Rezai, is also used to treading the turf in Europe and currently plays with Italy's A-league side Messina.

Daei, now 37 and Iran's captain for the past eight years, currently plays with the Iranian premier league side Saba Battery. But he has also played with the Bundesliga sides Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin.

"With this team we will make it to the second round of World Cup 2006. I am acquainted with the way Mexico, Angola, and Portugal play, and I am fully aware of our own team's strength," Daei told AFP, as the Iranians prepare to face Mexico in Nuremberg on June 11.

But he admitted the opening clash against Mexico — ranked sixth in the FIFA world rankings against Iran's 22nd place — could have a decisive impact on Iranian ambitions.

"We are not a team to lose our first match against Mexico, but the first game will be crucial for us," Daei said. "This will be our ticket to the second round, and we will need to get the necessary point against Mexico."

Iran first debuted in the World Cup in Argentina in 1978, where they failed to win a single game, though they did secure a famous draw against Scotland.

Twenty years later the squad made it to France, scoring a lone but memorable win against arch-foe the United States.

"In football a lot can happen, but our number one goal is to make it to the second round. If this happens, then our goal will be to make it to the third round," said the confident captain, who enjoys superstar status in Iran.

"We'll also be relying on a lot of Iranians living abroad to come and support us and help us play better," Daei said, adding that the squad was also working well under Croation coach Branko Ivankovic.

"His technical abilities and character has helped our team a lot. Branko is the coach that will take us to the second round," said Daei, but added that he viewed Brazil and Holland as the best placed sides to win the finals.

Iran has had a tough time preparing for Germany, facing

difficulties securing warm-up matches and under fire over their hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — who prompted calls for Iran to be barred from Germany after he said Israel should be "wiped off the map".

"I am not a politician, and never ever liked politics," was Daei's take on the controversy. "I am an athlete and I say what I want to say in the football matches."