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Where Are They Now? Allan Clarke
World Cup Countdown - Iran
Iran - The Squad
This Week In History
The Gary Pallister Column
365 Letters
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World Cup Countdown - Iran
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 Features 3 
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WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN
No. 14 - IRAN
 They were the 32nd and last nation to qualify for France 98, but with Yugoslavia and Germany in their group don't be surprised if Iran are the first team eliminated
IRAN were the last of the 32 finalists to qualify for the World Cup and most pundits reckon they will travel to France just to make up the numbers. The Iranians, though, are having none of it. Coach Tomislav Ivic is convinced they will spring a surprise this summer: People have said that we don't stand a chance but I'm counting on Iran to be the sensation of the World Cup.
Iran are rare for an Asian team in that their key players turn out for clubs in Europe, in Germany to be precise. It's hard to underestimate the importance of their Bundesliga connections. Ali Daei, Khododad Azizi and Karim Bagheri all play in Germany - and the experience they have gained there has been vital to their national cause. Bagheri, with a staggering 17 goals in 17 games, finished as the top scorer in the France 98 qualifiers. Azizi, the 1997 Asian Footballer of the Year, and Daei are both regular scorers for their clubs.
It all adds up to bags of attacking potential. What they lack is defensive strength - which is where Ivic comes in. Brazilian Valdeir Viera steered Iran through the qualifiers with tactics that brought lots of goals but accusations of naivety so, in January, he was sacked and replaced by Ivic, who is an experienced European campaigner. Everyone knows we have to work on defensive organisation, the Croatian said. But that doesn't mean we're going to play defensively. Even great attacking teams have a good defence.
Unfortunately for coach and country, the results since Ivic took over make grim reading. They lost to Nantes on a recent tour of France and, when they hosted a four-nation tournament in Tehran in April, Hungary beat them too. The media have laid into Ivic over the team's lack of attacking ambition, with many calling for Viera to return.
But the coach isn't concerned: I don't regret taking the job at all. The Iranians were looking for an experienced man who can adapt to their ways. I haven't had too many difficulties, mainly because I had already worked in the Middle East and knew something about Iranian football. My only regret is that I arrived a little late, although we're now making up for lost time and will arrive in France ready to cause a big surprise.
Iran are in a tough group. Germany and Yugoslavia are the favourites to qualify, and their clash with the USA is guaranteed will raise jingoistic interest even in parts of America where football is still a four letter word. A crumb of comfort is that they have been written off, just as Saudi Arabia were before USA 94 when they turned out to be one of the surprises of the tournament.
THE GREATS
Parvis Gheleechkhani
Andranak Eskandrian
STRANGE BUT TRUE
1. Women are not allowed to attend football matches in Iran
2. More people watched France 98 qualifying matches at Tehran's Azadi stadium than anywhere else in the world
3. Ali Daei was recalled to Iran's squad for the France 98 qualifiers after fans launched an appeal on the Internet
4. Iran set a World Cup record when they beat the Maldives 17-0 in a France 98 qualifier
BIGGEST WIN
17-0 v Maldives, June 2 1997
MOST EMBARASSING DEFEAT
4-1 v Peru, June 11 1978
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IRAN'S
WORLD CUP
HISTORY
IRAN have played in just one previous World Cup - 20 years ago in Argentina. They travelled to South America as Asia's top side, but unfortunately came up against Holland, who beat them easily 3-0, Rob Rensenbrink scoring a hat-trick. Next up came Scotland, who were only saved from a humiliating 1-0 defeat by Danaifar's own goal. The Iranians then lost 4-1 to Peru in their final match to go out of the competition. After their experiences in 1978, Iran didn't even bother trying to qualify for the next two tournaments but have once again discovered their love of the game.
WORLD CUP FINALS RECORD
Year Round reached
1930 Did not enter
1934 Did not enter
1938 Did not enter
1950 Did not enter
1954 Did not enter
1958 Did not enter
1962 Did not enter
1966 Did not enter
1970 Did not enter
1974 Did not qualify
1978 1st round
1982 Did not enter
1986 Did not enter
1990 Did not qualify
1994 Did not qualify
Games played 3, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 2,
Goals For 2, Goals Against 8
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HOW THEY QUALIFIED
IRAN may be the best team in Asia, but they slipped up in the final furlong of the road to France 98. They very nearly missed out on qualification - despite hitting a world record 26 goals (17-0 away and 9-0 at home) past a Maldives side that even Wales would fancy their chances against.
Defeat by Qatar in their final group match meant they missed out on automatic promotion. They then lost a play-off to Japan on a golden goal in extra time but were given one last chance to make it to France, playing off against Oceania group winners Australia.
The Aussies got a 1-1 draw in Tehran and were crusing to France at 2-0 up in the return leg before stunning late strikes from German-based stars Ali Daei and Khododad Azizi clinched Iran's place in the Finals on away goals.
ASIAN QUALIFYING SECTION
FIRST ROUND GROUP 2 (including scorers for Iran)
02.06.97 Maldives 0 Iran 17 (Bagheri 7, Estili 3, Daei 3, Azizi 2, Shahroudi, Mahdavikia, Minavand)
04.06.97 Kyrgyzstan 0 Iran 7 (Bagheri 2, Majidi 2, Daei, Minavand, Mousavi)
06.06.97 Syria 0 Iran 1 (Daei)
09.06.97 Iran 3 Kyrgyzstan 1 (Azizi 2, Bagheri)
11.06.97 Iran 9 Maldives 0 (Mansourian 2, Bagheri 2, Daei 2, Mahdavikia, Shahroudi, Azizi)
15.06.97 Iran 2 Syria 2 (Shahroudi, Mansourian)
P W D L F A Pts
Iran 6 5 1 0 39 3 16
Kyrgyzstan 5 3 0 2 12 11 9
Syria 5 2 1 2 27 5 7
Maldives 6 0 0 6 0 59 0
SECOND ROUND GROUP A (including scorers for Iran)
13.09.97 China 2 Iran 4 (Bagheri, Mahdavikia 2, Rousta)
19.09.97 Iran 1 Saudi Arabia 1 (Bagheri)
26.09.97 Kuwait 1 Iran 1 (Bagheri)
03.10.97 Iran 3 Qatar 0 (Daei, Bagheri 2)
17.10.97 Iran 4 China 1 (Mansourian, Rosta, Bagheri, Daei)
24.10.97 Saudi Arabia 1 Iran 0
31.10.97 Iran 0 Kuwait 0
07.11.97 Qatar 2 Iran 0
P W D L F A Pts
Saudi Arabia 8 4 2 2 8 6 14
*Iran 8 3 3 2 13 8 12
China PR 8 3 2 3 11 14 11
Qatar 8 3 1 4 7 10 10
Kuwait 8 2 2 4 7 8 8
*Iran enter play-off
PLAY-OFF (in Malaysia) (including scorers for Iran)
16.11.97 Japan 3 Iran 2 (Azizi, Daei)
Japan win by golden goal & qualify for finals. Iran enter Asia-Oceania play-off
ASIA-OCEANIA PLAY-OFF (including scorers for Iran)
22.11.97 Iran 1 Australia 1 (Azizi)
29.11.97 Australia 2 Iran 2 (Bagheri, Azizi)
Iran qualify for finals on away goals
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FRANCE 98 FIXTURES
Yugoslavia, June 14, Saint-Etienne
A tough opener against a Yugoslav side who qualified impressively.
USA, June 21, Lyon
A match that could be hyped out of all proportion by the Americans. It will be Iran's best hope for points in a difficult group.
Germany, June 25, Montpellier
Iran's Bundesliga-based trio of Azizi, Daei and Bagheri may cause a few problems but, by now, the Germans should be into their championship-winning stride.
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