Iran's Daei denies he is past his best

Reuters - Iran's record goalscorer Ali Daei said on Thursday he would defy the critics who say he is too old and slow at the age of 37.
"I may look old off the pitch but I feel young on the field," Ali Daei told journalists on Thursday as he prepared for the World Cup.

Many Iranians hold up Daei's performance in the 1996 Asian Cup quarter final against South Korea as a turning point for football in the Islamic Republic but some have voiced concern recently that the Iranian captain is past his best.

Daei, the first footballer to score 100 international goals, said he believed the Iranian side was the strongest the country had ever produced.

"This is the best team in the history of the Islamic Republic," Daei said. "We will go step by step. Our first goal is qualifying for the second round, then becoming one of the final eight."

The team has benefited from being together for four years already and can draw on the experience of its players in international leagues such as Germany's Bundesliga.

"Because the World Cup is in Germany it is a big advantage that (we have players in the German league)," he said.

Daei himself used to play for Germany's Hertha BSC, Bayern Munich and Arminia Bielefeld,

Ali Karimi plays for Bayern Munich, Ferydoon Zandi for Kaiserslautern and Mehdi Mahdavikia plays for Hamburger SV. However, all three have been hit by injuries and illness ahead of Sunday's opening game with Mexico.

Iran would have to spring a surprise to make the second round. Portugal and Mexico are tipped as favourites to progress from a group which also features debutants Angola.