National team to depart for Germany Sunday

IRNA - Iran's national soccer team will depart for Germany on Sunday to take part in the 2006 World Cup games.

Iran played its last friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Tehran's Azadi Stadium Wednesday evening.

A brave fight after Bosnia's two goals helped Iran demolish the team 5-2 before the departure ceremony for the departing World Cup team.

Mehrzad Maadanchi (36), Rahman Rezaie (45), Vahid Hashemian (45+1), Reza Enayati (89) and Rasoul Khatibi (90) scored Iran's 5 goals.

The Bosnian goals were netted by Zvjezdan Misimovic (4) and Sergej Barbarez (15).

Iran played the match in the absence of the two Bundesliga- bound midfielders Mehdi Mahdavikia and Fereydoun Zandi, who are in Germany for treatment of injuries.

Iran's World Cup team is in Group D with Mexico, Portugal and Angola and has chosen the southern German city of Friedrichshafen as its base.

The Iranian side will take on Mexico in its opener in Nuremberg, southeast of Germany, on June 11.

After the match, football officials held a see-off ceremony and wished the players success and good performance in Germany.