FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany – Midfielder Moharram Navidkia joined Iran’s national football team here Monday night.

Croat manager Branko Ivankovic called up Navidkia to replace the injured Sattar Zare’.

Iran lost its 2006 World Cup Group D opener against Mexico 3-1 Sunday following a defending blunder that helped the North American side net twice in three minutes.

The Iranian team held Mexico to a 1-1 draw 14 minutes from time.

Iran arrays against Portugal and Angola in Frankfurt and Leipzig on June 17 and 21 respectively.