PARIS - Karim Bagheri is acknowledged as the heart of Iran's midfield but he has had a quiet season with German club Arminia Bielefeld, finding it difficult to adjust to the foreign surroundings. He and Iranian teammate Ali Daei have often had to watch from the bench - a view of the field they will be spared in France. The pair are so beloved at home in Iran that Bielfeld football shirts bearing their names and numbers are on sale - but only on the black market with no funds finding their way back to the coffers of Arminia's merchandising department.

Bagheri and Daei are close friends and rely on each other on the field too, even Moreso at Bielefeld because neither speaks any German. Bagheri is a natural goalscorer and was the top marksman in the World Cup qualifiers. The lowly Maldives discovered just how lethal he can be when they crashed 17-0 to Iran, with Bagheri scoring seven of them.

The 24-year-old is also a ball-winner and strong in the air. Bagheri admits to having Bayern Munich Libero and former Germany captain Lothar Matthaeus as his idol. He will come up against his replacement and Bayern teammate Thomas Helmer in the World Cup group matches, Iran having been drawn with Yugoslavia, the United States and Germany. But with his international record of almost a goal a match will make him a threat to all three sides.

(AFP)