Rutemoller: Iran will qualify for World Cup

PTV - Celebrated German soccer coach Erich Rutemoller says Iran's national soccer team can easily qualify for 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"Iran is in a tough group but can easily qualify for the 2010 World Cup because of the high potential of its players," Fars news agency quoted Rutemoller as saying on Tuesday.

"Iranian coaches are very experienced and are as good as their Japanese and Korean counterparts, perhaps even better," he added.

In the German Soccer League, Bundesliga, Rutemoller has coached FC Koln, Hansa Rostock and SC Bonn. He is currently in Tehran to train Iranian coaches.

Iran will compete against Saudi Arabia, North Korea, the UAE and South Korea in Group B in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup, which will be held in South Africa.

The Iranian soccer squad qualified for the World Cup in 1978, 1998 and 2006.