Daei doubtful for crucial clash with Japan

Xinhuanet - The niggling injury of ace striker Ali Daei adds woes to the suspension-depleted Iran ahead of the crucial clash with Japan, which is to decide who will top group D of the Asian Cup tournament.

"I slightly twisted my ankle against Thailand and probably aggravated it in the game against Oman," said Daei, who was noticeably out-of-sorts in Saturday's controversial 2-2 draw with the Asian Cup debutants.

The game with title holders Japan will be held on Wednesday and Iran need at least a draw to secure a berth for the quarterfinals.

The three-time champions can ill-afford to loss of Daei's experience given they are almost certain to be without Italy-based center back Rahman Rezaei and right sided Olympic team defender Ali Badavi, who received a two-match ban for coming to blows during the Oman game, and injury-time hero Mohammad Nosrati, suspended for four games for stamping on Oman's two-goal striker Imad Ali in the same match.

"It will make things more difficult against Japan but we know this Iran squad has good players who will be able to come into these positions," said Daei.

The talismanic target man, who is five away from becoming the first player to hit a century of international goals, continued by expressing his anger that the Iranians seem to be being portrayed as the villains of the tempestuous clash with Oman.

"Everything that has been written about this match is always about what Iran has done. Why, for example, is there nothing aboutthe linesman who failed to flag for Oman's opening goal which was clearly offside?"

There were also voices of dissent from the Iranian camp about what they perceived to be the young Omani side's somewhat cynical efforts to run down the clock, with even head coach Ivankovic calling for stop of this kind action at the post match press conference.