Iran group tougher: Daei

AFC - Iran coach Ali Daei believes his side has got a tougher draw for the final leg of 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Iran have been slotted with Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, DPR Korea and the UAE in Group B in today’s draw at AFC House and will play Saudi Arabia away on the first Match Day on September 6.

“Our group is tougher than the other as all the teams are strong but I have faith in my team. I think we have a decent chance to gain one of the four automatic berths,” he said.

Iran will renew their rivalry with UAE after today’s draw pitted the third round qualifying rivals together again. Iran were held goalless in the first leg at home but won the return leg 1-0, thanks to a Ferydoon Zandi strike.

Daei, who is the world’s highest goalscorer for a national team with 107 goals, said: “I have a very high respect for the UAE team and their coach Bruno Metsu but this time we will try not to drop points against them,” he added.

“I have good memories of DPR Korea because I played there twice and won both the games. I would like to repeat that success this time also as a coach.”

He also served a caution to foreign-based players saying selection for the final round qualifiers will solely be on merit.

Regarding the inclusion of Mehdi Mahdavikia and Ali Karimi in the Team Melli, the former Iran captain said: “It all depends on their readiness and merit. I don’t want to name any player but the selection will be purely based on merit.”

Mahdavikia, who struts his stuff for Bundesliga outfit Eintract Frankfurt, missed the last five matches of the third round due to injury while former Bayern Munich ace Ali Karimi, who plays for Qatar Sports Club, missed the last four games.

He said the team will start their preparations with a training camp in Spain 12 days later. “We have scheduled good matches during our training in Spain and I hope the team will be ready before the first match against Saudi Arabia,” he said.