TEHRAN // The retirement of former Asian Player of the Year Ali Karimi will not affect Iran as they prepare for their World Cup qualifying clash with North Korea tomorrow night - according to coach Ali Daei. The 29-year-old playmaker quit international football last week after rejecting Daei's call-up to a training camp ahead of the match at the Azadi Stadium. While Karimi's decision has caused uproar among Iranian media and fans, Daei is unconcerned by the absence of the former Bayern Munich player.
"A team is not based on one player. We have 11 players in the field and we won't have any problems," said Daei. Karimi's absence and injuries to Europe-based pair Andranik Teymourian of Fulham and Vahid Hashemian of Bochum leave Daei's side lacking experience, although captain Mehdi Mahdavikia is set to return for the first time since February. Wednesday's game will be the second for the Iranians in the final round of Asian qualifying following last month's 1-1 draw in Saudi Arabia, and they could go joint top with the North Koreans and Saudi Arabia, who do not have a game this week, with victory in Tehran.
Daei is wary of the secretive North Koreans, who have banned their players and coaching staff from giving interviews to the media and have trained behind closed doors, but Daei claims to know plenty about themafter watching several hours of video of their past matches. "The match against DPR Korea is crucial. We need the three points because we're at home," said Daei. "Without doubt they will be strong opponents as they've shown with their previous results. But I'm sure they won't be better than us." * With agencies