Dubai - Croat manager Branko Ivankovic is
certain that his side Iran will book a berth in the finals of 2006 World Cup
in Germany.
"Iranian players' flair and performance have made me so sure and make such a
prediction," the trainer told Al-Bayan, a daily published in Dubai, Monday.
He added frequent matches against Jordan and Qatar have helped Iran broaden
its experience.
"I started my work with the aim of making Iran's national football squad
ready for the event three years ago and now the team has a high-level
performance," said Ivankovic.
Iran lies in the 20th spot in the latest FIFA rankings, boasted the Croat
and added, "My players are young and will surely improve their performance
in the coming years."
Ivankovic said Iran will play a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on
Jan 21 and another friendly before important world cup qualifier with
Bahrain in Manama on Feb 9.
