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German coach Juergen Klinsmann, right, talks to team captain Michael Ballack, left, during a practice session of the German soccer team in Munich, southern Germany on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004. Germany will play a friendly against Iran on Saturday. Saturday's match will be Germany's first game in Tehran. The two sides have played just once, a World Cup group match in 1998 which Germany won 2-0. (AP Photo/Uwe Lein)
FIFAWORLDCUP - German coach Jurgen Klinsmann has already shown that he is not afraid to give youth a chance and he is set to throw several of his twenty somethings into the intimidating atmosphere of Tehran's Asadi Stadium for Saturday's friendly match with Iran.
Over 100,000 passionate fans are expected in Tehran to watch Iran face 2002 World Cup finalists Germany and Klinsmann will hope his charges can swim rather than sink without a trace.
Klinsmann, 40, has once again put his faith in youth with the 2006 World Cup in mind with Aston Villa's 22-year-old midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger the most interesting inclusion.
Hitzlsperger is tipped to make his debut in the benefit match, with proceeds going to victims of the earthquakes in Iran, alongside Chelsea's Robert Huth, 20, VfB Stuttgart's Philipp Lahm, 20, and 22-year-old Andreas Hinkel.
The quartet have just over 20 caps between them.
"They will get a taster of what awaits them and will see whether they can come through it," said Klinsmann.
Off the field, Klinsmann has come under fire from Bundesliga managers, notably Werder Bremen's Thomas Schaaf and VfL Bochum's Peter Neururer, but on the pitch it has gone according to plan.
A 3-1 win over Austria was followed by a creditable 1-1 draw against world champions Brazil in Berlin.
"We have made strides forward in the matches against Austria and Brazil and want to take another step in the right direction," said Klinsmann. "We will play with speed and go forward with aggression and purpose."
Germany have never played in Iran and midfield maestro Mehdi Mehdavikia hopes the Asian side, ranked 20th in the FIFA rankings, can take the scalp of the three-time World Cup victors.
"This game is something special for me and Iran," said Mehdavikia. "Germany have won the World Cup and the European championships and are a huge footballing nation."
Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann makes a rare start - Bayern Munich custodian Oliver Kahn is rested - and will hope to thwart Mehdavikia and company with a clean sheet to stake a claim for a place in the starting line-up.
Klinsmann has made it known that places are up for grabs following the disastrous Euro 2004 finals, when Germany crashed out at the first hurdle, and believes his charges are responding.
"The players realise that they may never again have a chance to play in a World Cup in their own country," added the 1990 World Cup winner. "Players have two years to develop and realise their potential."
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