MADANCHI WOE FOR IRAN

Sportinglife - Iran's problems worsened on Wednesday when midfielder Mehrzad Madanchi suffered an injury to his left foot.

The injury was inflicted by team-mate Ali Karimi during a practice match at the team's training camp in Friedrichshafen.

After losing their opening game to Mexico, this news is a blow to coach Branko Ivankovic, who earlier lost captain Ali Daei to a back injury, and both players are doubtful for the crucial match against Portugal on Saturday.

"We will have to see what happens in the next few days with Ali Daei," Ivanovic told the Iran Football Federation's official website, www.iriff.ir.

There was however better news with other injured players Karimi, Mehdi Mahdavikia and Ferydoon Zandi all training on Tuesday.