Iran Football Team

Germany 2006 is the third Finals for the Iran Football Team (Team Melli), having previously qualified in 1978 & 1998. In '98 they beat the United States to the delight of the Iranian Football Federation and indeed, everyone back home. That victory remains the single victory for Team Melli in a World Cup Finals tournament.

The Iranians have had previous success in the Asian Cup, but not many will give them much chance of progressing from Group D in Germany. Whilst the group does not look too strong on paper, Mexico, Portugal & to a lesser extent Angola should prove too good for the Iran squad.

Iran's coach Miroslav Blazevic has a young and inexperienced squad, and although the current FIFA ranking shows them at number 19 the Iran Football Team will find the going very tough in Germany.