Goalkeepers
Ahmadreza Abedzadeh (Pirouzi) At 32, one of the teamÆs veterans. Emotional keeper with a penchant for theatrics.
Nima Nakisa (Pirouzi) Will one day replace Abedzadeh at Pirouzi and with the national team.
Parviz Boroumand (Esteghlal Tehran) Will serve as a backup.
Defenders
Mohammad Khakpour (Bahman) The most experienced player in the back, having played in Turkey with Vanspor and Singapore at Geyland United. Seen as the anchor of IranÆs defense.
Javad Zarrincheh (Esteghlal Tehran) Brought back by Ivic and slotted in as one of the marking backs. An alert and reliable defender. At 32, fitness is a question mark, however.
Mehdi Pashazadeh (Barg) Young marking back won job with performance in Australia series. A tall defender who will probably be given task of marking oppositionÆs top striker.
Naeem Saadavi (Pirouzi) Best suited on the right side. Badu Vieira brought him back into the team and started him both games in deciding series against Australia.
Ali Akbar Ostadasadi (Zobahan) Another player in his 30s. Unlike Saadavi, he prefers to hang back on defense.
Afshin Peyrovani (Pirouzi) The starting sweeper in qualifying but highly criticized for his play. After bad game against Hungary this spring, he was dropped from the starting lineup.
Farshad Falahatzadeh (Bahman) Back in the squad after serving six-month suspension.
Midfielders
Karim Bagheri (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany) The player the U.S. midfield will have to track. Confident, tough, aggressive and likes shooting from outside the box. Had seven goals in 17-0 rout of the Maldives to open World Cup qualifying.
Mehrdad Minavand (Pirouzi) One of youngest players in team (just 22). Appears to have won starting job on the left side over Reza Sharoudi. Good with the cross but inconsistent.
Alireza Mansourian (Esteghlal Tehran) A calming influence in the middle of the field. Passes the ball well and uses his intelligence.
Hamid Estili (Geyland Utd., Singapore) Complements Bagheri in the middle and is a dangerous goalscorer in his own right. Played every game in IranÆs final run to the World Cup. Like most of the key players, played one time at Pirouzi.
Mehdi Mahdavikia (Pirouzi) Voted Æ97 Young Asian Player of the Year. European scouts will be watching him closely. Stocky midfielder with speed, he is well capable of exploiting slow opposing defenders.
Nader Mohammadkhani (Polyacril Ishafan) Making late challenge for starting job.
Reza Shahroudi (Altay, Turkey) Another left-sided player. Likes dribbling and has good touch. Also capable of putting long shot on target.
Sirous Deenmohammadi (Shahrdari) Making a late bid for a place in the squad for France.
Strikers
Ali Daei (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany) Burst on international scene with four goals against South Korea at Æ96 Asian Cup. Tall and effective in the air. Signed to play for Bayern Munich next season. Moved to Germany after stint in Qatar.
Khodadad Azizi (Cologne, Germany) The 1996 Asian Player of the Year. A dazzling striker with good speed and a fine touch and finish. Has fared well in Germany. Goal against Australia earned Iran berth in the finals.
Sattar Hamedani (Bahman) Another young player with a bright future.
Farhad Majidi (Esteghlal Tehran) Teenager with excellent ball skills.
Coach
Jalal Talebi Named national team coach May 20, less than three weeks after being appointed ôtechnical adviserö to Tomislav Ivic. He had returned this year to Iran to coach club team Bahman after many years abroad, including stints in the United States, Singapore and Indonesia. A star with Tehran club Darai and a member of the Iranian team that went to the Æ64 Olympics.
