5/29/2006
The Herald

IRAN Coach Branko Ivankovic has hailed his team's four German-based players. Bayern Munich's Ali Karimi, Hamburg's Mehdi Mahdavikia, Ferydoon Zandi of Kaiserslautern and Hanover 96 striker Vahid Hashemian will lead the nation into their third World Cup with the Iranians setting a target of progressing to the second round for the first time. "They are my key players, they form the skeleton of our team," said the Croatian coach of the Bundesliga quartet.

"Mahdavikia had an outstanding season. Ali Karimi is the soul of our game. Zandi and Hashemian have the capabilities to decide the game. The whole fabric of our team with experienced, young and key players make us a strong team."