TEHRAN - Iran’s football veterans Mehdi Mahdavikia and Ali Karimi bade farewell to the national team on Tuesday.

@T=Mahdavikia, the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder, played his debut in 1996 and played 111 caps for Iran and scored 13 times.
The 31-year old player who captained Iran since 2006 World Cup, said, “I am very sad because of missing the 2010 World Cup. We wanted to be messengers of happiness for the Iranians.”
“As I’ve already said, the South Korea match was my last game in the national team and it was so disappointing,” he added.
Ali Karimi nicknamed the Asian Maradona, has also hung up his boots.
The Former Bayern Munich midfielder made 111 caps for Iran and scored 36 goals.
“I’m so sorry because we failed to advance to the World Cup. I hope that the young players achieve good results for Iran’s football,” the 31-year old declared.
Iran was held to a 1-1 draw in its last qualifier against South Korea who had previously advanced to the World Cup. Saudi Arabia and North Korea finished in a goalless tie in Riyadh; consequently, Iran failed to qualify for the World Cup