2006 World Cup (June 2006)

Iran geared up for the World Cup with a number of friendlies and some mixed results. While there were some encouraging scorelines such as a 4-0 pounding of Libya and Taiwan and a 5-2 win over Bosnia, however, a 2-0 loss against South Korea and a 2-1 defeat against Macedonia’s B team spelled trouble. In spite of Nikbakht’s instrumental role in Iran's progress, his disciplinary problems created difficulties for the national team coaches. While some claimed that his hitherto out-of-form play was the major impediment for him reclaiming his spot in Iran’s final roster, but in reality an old injury caused him to be crossed off the squad. Much criticism was aimed at Ivankovic who insisted on keeping a 37 year-old Daei as Iran’s main striker. The disagreement regarding this issue trickled down to the players as well, causing the national team camp to be split and ununified.  By the time the World Cup kicked off, it was a well-known secret that the final roster was full of cliques of pro-Daei and anti-Daei players, the latter led by Karimi. The World Cup draw had been extremely kind to Iran, being grouped with Mexico, Portugal and Angola.

Iran would face Mexico in its opener and fielded their oldest ever starting lineup. 

Iran was the livelier team at the start and came close to scoring in the 12^th minute when Karimi crossed to Hashemian and his downward header forced a sharp low save from goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez. But the Mexicans quickly upped the tempo and went in front in the 28^th minute when Pavel Pardo floated a ball for Guillermo Franco in the penalty area and he nodded it on for Bravo to tap in from close range. 

But Iran would level eight minutes later when Mahdavikia's corner caused havoc in the box. Rezaei's header was blocked by Sanchez and Golmohammadi reacted quickest among a group of players to poke home from in between a Mexican player’s legs. 

The teams went to the locker room tied at one and with Mexico making a change in their lineup for the second half. Mexico has a strong claim for a penalty kick turned down when Marquez was clattered by Golmohammadi after a flowing move down the Mexico right. Mexico gained control of the midfield, pushing for a second goal, but a packed Iran defense stood strong with even Daei dropping back to help. But in the 76^th minute Iran would gift Mexico its second goal after a poor clearance by Mirzapour. Zinha pounced on the defensive confusion after stripping Rezaei of the ball, to feed Bravo and he supplied a cool, side-footed finish into the bottom corner of the net as the onrushing Mirzapour lost his footing. 

Zinha made sure of victory with a thumping header from a cross by Mario Mendez in the 79^th minute. 

Mexico would go on to win 3-1. 

Criticisms of Daei intensified after the Mexico game and ultimately lead to him being dropped for the next game against Portugal. Daei would later claim that some players would intentionally avoid passing him the ball. 

Much like the previous game, Iran had one good and one bad half. Portugal came close in the 12^th minute when Deco was denied after his fierce left-foot drive from eight yards was brilliantly saved by Mirzapour and pushed over the crossbar for a corner. Despite continuous Portuguese pressure, Iran managed to cause the odd problem in their opposition's penalty area with Mahdavikia's inswinging free-kick forcing goalkeeper Ricardo to punch clear. Iran quickly showed that they had little interest in venturing beyond the halfway line. Although they consistently gave the ball away inside their own half the sheer weight of numbers back in defense meant that this did not cost them. Iran managed to make it to halftime scoreless. Karimi was subbed off to give his spot to Zandi and the former showed his displeasure when he kicked a sports bag as he walked off the field. 

Portugal broke through as the game passed the hour mark. Figo cut inside from the left wing a slid a square ball into Deco's path who shot a beauty from outside the box, arrowing a sweet drive into the upper corner with Mirzapour a mere spectator. 

There had been nothing to suggest Iran might muster a response but when Golmohammadi speared a long ball out of defense through the middle, Khatibi was clean through. The extra touch he decided to take was heavy and severely narrowed his angle and his eventual shot was tame, bobbling wide of the far post. It was a miracle that Kaebi's studs-up airborne assault on Figo which left him with the mother of all shaving wounds did not result in a red card. 

Iran sought an equalizer and Zandi got down the right to send over a cross which Hashemian headed on frame but it was an easy save for the keeper. Straight down the other end Figo ran down the left side of the area only to be taken out by Golmohammadi’s challenge in the box. Ronaldo stepped up to plant an emphatic kick high into the net to make the game safe. 

As the game wound down Nekounam should have scored with a free header from a corner while Pauleta put in a weak finish when clear that Mirzapour saved with his feet. Right at the death Ronaldo tapped the ball home but was rightfully called for offside. With the 2-0 loss, Iran was mathematically eliminated.

Perhaps due to disciplinary reasons as a result of him kicking the sports bag, Karimi did not suit up against Angola, but Ivankovic attributed his omission to his refusal to play because of an injury. 

Iran faced Angola as their opponents knew that a 2-0 victory, coupled with a similar result for Portugal against Mexico, would see them through to the knockout round. In spite of this it was Iran who looked more likely to score in the first half. Daei, who was back in the lineup, had a golden opportunity to give the Iranians the lead, but somehow headed high from eight yards out with the goal at his mercy. A minute later Arsenio Love was through for Angola but shot tamely at Mirzapour. Hashemian saw his header cleared off the line by Mendonca, while Teymourian forced a smart stop from Joao Ricardo, with Ali Daei hovering menacingly. 

The deadlock was finally broken on the hour when substitute Flavio planted a textbook header past Mirzapour to send the Angolan supporters into raptures. 

It was rumored that Karimi was asked to warm up to be subbed on the field but he declined to do so and instead Borhani was subbed on. Iran was determined to leave Germany with a point and were rewarded for their persistence in the 75^th minute when Bakhtiarizadeh rose unmarked at a corner to head them level. 

With a 1-1 tie, Angola joined already eliminated Iran in an early departure from the World Cup. 

Ivankovic left Iran after the World Cup as his contract had expired at the end of the competition and Iran football federation chose not to renew it.

Iran roster: Mirzapour, Roudbarian, Talebloo, Bakhtiarizadeh, Golmohammadi, Rezaei, Kaebi, Sadeghi, Nosrati, Mahdavikia, Nekounam, Teymourian, Navidkia, Madanchi, Zandi, Karimi, Shojaei, Borhani, Enayati, Kazemian, Khatibi, Hashemian, Daei. Coach: Ivankovic