| Outright Odds: 750/1 | | | | Asian Footballer of the Year will be recognisable to the |
| Group D Winners: 14/1 | | | | domestic audience. Mahdavika has emerged as Iran's |
| Iran's last appearance in the World Cup, back in 1998, | | | | major attacking force in Daei's twighlight years and |
| produced a shock 2-1 victory over the United States, in | | | | has been given license to support the attack rather |
| what could have been described as a very diplomatic | | | | than being restricted to his traditional spot on the right |
| result. After qualifying emphatically for this year's | | | | wing. |
| tournament, including a 2-1 home victory over Japan, | | | | Striker Vahid Hashemian is another player with |
| Iran will be expected to more than merely make up | | | | Bundesliga experience, plying his trade for Hannover |
| the numbers. | | | | 96 following a transfer from Bayern Munich, as does |
| Iran won nine out of their 11 matches and qualified with | | | | midfielder Fereydoon Zandi who plays for |
| a match to spare, although were pipped to the top | | | | Kaiserslautern. |
| spot by Japan, who beat them in the return fixture in | | | | Iran are lead by Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic who |
| the final round of fixtures. | | | | has successfully rebuilt the side which failed to qualify |
| Their efforts did not go unnoticed and they ranked at | | | | for the 2002 finals after losing to the Republic of |
| an all-time high of 15 in June 2005, ahead of fellow | | | | Ireland in the play-offs. |
| qualifiers Ukraine and Sweden and European | | | | While the victory over the United States sticks in the |
| champions Greece. To give you some idea of their | | | | memory, it is the country's only victory in six attempts |
| position in the world game, they were rated just one | | | | at the finals and overall the squad lacks experience at |
| place below Italy. | | | | the highest level, especially in defence. While Ivankovic |
| Iran are blessed with a plethora of attacking talent. | | | | has turned Iran's fortunes around, they will need more |
| Veteran striker and captain Ali Daei is the most prolific | | | | than good morale to see them through a tough |
| ever in international football with over 100 goals to his | | | | qualifying group and their final match against Angola |
| name and he topped the Asian scoring charts with | | | | could be their only chance of success. |
| nine qualifying goals. He will be 37 in Germany and this | | | | Recommended Bet: |
| will surely be his last major finals. | | | | Despite their improvement, it is unlikely Iran will get |
| Hamburg's Mehdi Mahdavika, who netted the decisive | | | | anything from their matches against Mexico and |
| goal against the United States eight years ago and | | | | Portugal but their attacking prowess could yield a final |
| Bayern Munich's Ali Karimi, who was crowned 2004 | | | | match victory against Angola at odds-against. |