Iranian President roots for national team

AFC - Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has expressed his hope that the national football team will qualify for the next round of the FIFA World Cup, beginning in Germany from June 9.

“I hope Iran can reach the next round at World Cup in Germany,” he told ISNA news agency during his visit to Tafresh city. “If our players play in the true Iranian spirit then I am hopeful that they will qualify. This won’t remain a dream and will turn into a reality”.

Ahmadinejad watched Team Melli’s friendly against Costa Rica earlier

this year and also visited the team’s training session in February.

Meanwhile, all the foreign-based players of the national team joined

the training on Sunday giving Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic time to find a suitable combination before they face Croatia on May 28 in a friendly.

The team will face Bosnia at home on May 31 before leaving for Germany.

Mehdi Mahdavikia (Hamburg), Ali Karimi (Bayern Munich), Vahid Hashemian (Hannover 96), Rahman Rezaei (Messina) and Feyeredoon Zandi (Kaiserslautern) turned up for the training.

Iran have been slotted in Group D with Mexico, Portugal and Angola and will open their campaign against Mexico on June 11.