Iran suffer Karimi injury blow for Asian Cup

Reuters - Iran will be without injured playmaker Ali Karimi for next week's Asian Cup qualifier against Syria, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Thursday.

The Bayern Munich midfielder picked up a thigh strain while training with the German club last week, ruling him out of Iran's Group B clash in Tehran on Aug. 16.

Iran's coach Amir Ghalenoiee is also sweating over the fitness of striker Vahid Hashemian, who has yet to fully recover from a back injury suffered during the World Cup.

Iran are drawn with South Korea, Syria and Taiwan in a tricky qualifying group for the 2007 Asian Cup.