6/12/2006
AFP

NUREMBERG – Iran's World Cup hopes took another hit when it was revealed that captain and top-scorer Ali Daei would miss the Portugal match with a back problem.

Coach Branko Ivankovic said Daei, who holds the world record for international goals with 109, took a knock during Iran's 3-1 Group D defeat to Mexico on Sunday.

"He suffered a hit in the back during yesterday's game and probably won't be fit to play against Portugal," Brankovic said.

Daei has scored more goals than both Pele and Ferenc Puskas in an international career stretching back to 1993.

But calls have been growing in the Iranian media for Ivankovic to replace his captain, now aged 37, with someone younger and faster.

The loss to Mexico almost certainly doomed Iran's hopes of qualifying from a tough Group D. They play Portugal on Saturday and African debutants Angola – who lost only 1-0 to Portugal on Sunday – on June 21.

Iran have won only one World Cup match in three finals appearances, a memorable 2-1 victory against ideological foe the United States in 1998.

Their campaign has been hit by a series of injury problems, especially to the key contingent of Bundesliga players.

Bayern Munich's Ali Karimi struggled through 55 minutes against Mexico, Mehdi Mahdavikia rushed his recovery from a back injury to play and Ferydoon Zandi missed the match altogether after falling ill and suffering a muscle problem.