IRAN : PLAYERS TO WATCH

At 36, forward Ali Daei (107 goals in 143 matches) will be one of the oldest field players in the Cup, if not the oldest. Some observers feel he is past his prime, but Iran is more concerned about the leadership and experience he brings to the team. He scored a team-high nine qualifying goals. Midfielder Ali Karimi, the 2004 Asian player of the year, is an expert dribbler and the creative force of the team. Midfielder Mehdi Mahdavikia, who scored the game-winner in Iran's win over the U.S. at France '98, is better known for his right-wing crosses than goals (11 in 89 appearances).

ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Ebrahim Mirzapour (Foolad Khuzestan), Vahid Talebloo (Esteghlal Teheran), Hassan Roudbarian (Pas).
Defenders: Yahya Golmohammadi (Saba Battery), Mohammad Nosrati (Pas), Rahman Rezaei (AC Messina), Sattar Zare (Bargh Shiraz), Hossein Kaabi (Foolad Khuzestan), Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh (Saba Battery), Amir Hossein Sadeqi (Esteghlal Teheran).
Midfielders: Javad Nekounam (Sharjah/VAE), Anderanik Teymourian (Abomoslem Khorasan), Mehdi Mahdavikia (Hamburg SV), Fereydoon Zandi (Kaiserslautern), Ali Karimi (Bayern Munich), Mehrzad Madanchi (Persepolis), Javad Kazemian (Persepolis).
Forwards: Ali Daei (Saba Battery), Vahid Hashemian (Hannover 96), Reza Enayati (Esteghlal Teheran), Arash Borhani (Pas), Masoud Shojai (Saipa), Rasoul Khatibi (Sepahan Isfahan).