6/6/2006
DPA

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Veteran Iran striker Ali Daei will start his side's opening World Cup match against Mexico in Nuremburg on June 11, coach Branko Ivankovic said on Monday.

Though Iran beat a local team of part-time players 5-0 in Friedrichshafen on Monday, Daei failed to have any impact before he was replaced at half-time.

Daei is Iran's record goalscorer with a stunning 109 goals in 149 appearances but at 37, his best football years are almost certainly behind him.

But Ivankovic said he would definitely begin the match against Mexico.

'He will start,' he said. 'Of course he is not the best age, he is 37 now but he is a very important player for us.

'He is a leader in our team and hopefully he will play well in the World Cup.'

Iran have one major injury worry with midfielder Mehdi Mahdavikia struggling with a back injury.

Mahdavikia trained alone on Monday and Brankovic said he would have a test on either Wednesday or Thursday before making a final decision.

The Croat coach said Ali Karimi, who sat out the friendly match having had his left knee iced at the end of training in the morning, would be fine for Mexico.

'Karimi is healthy. We just did not want to make any more risks. He will be there against Mexico.'