POLITICS

Renewed isolation

After cautious attempts at reform in the late 1990s, hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seized the reins of government in August 2005. By threatening Israel and asserting its right to a nuclear program, the country has succeeded in further isolating itself. Yet Iran cannot afford further economic embargoes. Lacking sufficient refineries of its own, the oil-rich country needs to import $4.5 billion worth of gasoline every year. Economic development is hampered by a bloated public sector. Despite the country's good educational system, at least one in eight Iranians is jobless. Iran is seeking to develop its economy with support from Germany as well, and has more than doubled imports of machinery and industrial plant since 2000. Many Iranians, especially the young, have sought refuge from the omnipresent censorship in cyberspace. The country already has 3.5 million Internet connections.

THE SPORT

Democratizing?

When Bayern Munich took the field in January during the season's winter break for a friendly against Tehran's Persepolis, the Iranian government used the television broadcast for propaganda purposes. The words "The peaceful use of atomic energy is a natural right of all peoples," flickered across the screen. After the game came repeated calls to ban Iran from the World Cup in Germany. FIFA categorically rejected the idea, saying that sports cannot and may not preempt politics, adding that it should instead be a unifying force. The German team also made a favorable impression and critics of the Tehran regime believe that participation in world sports will hasten democratic reform. But the game also underscored the country's enthusiasm for football. Several newspapers dedicated to soccer or other sports appear on newsstands daily.

TEAM AND TACTICS

Bundesliga experience

The current incarnation of the Iranian national team is regarded as the best ever. After Iran failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, a talented young team was formed by new coach Branko Ivankovic around veteran striker Ali Daei, who once played for Bayern Munich. With nine goals, Daei was his country's top scorer during qualifying. The team's front line is well known to Bundesliga fans: through Mehdi Mahdavikia of Hamburg, Vahid Hashemian of Hanover and Bayern Munich's Ali Karimi - Iran's answer to Diego Maradona. Despite the presence of name attackers, most of Iran's goals come from set-pieces. Nonetheless, there are high hopes of building on the country's one World Cup success to date - a 2-1 win over the United States in 1998.

STAR PLAYER

Ali Karimi

Although tipped for success with a top European club early in his career, it seemed that Asia's 2004 Footballer of the Year was doomed to squander his talent in the sporting backwaters of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. But Karimi (27) finally made the switch to Bayern Munich last year. Initially doubts were expressed as to whether the midfielder - a particular favorite of Bayern coach Felix Magath - could not only turn on a sixpence with the ball, but scrap and score goals as well. After suffering a torn ligament in his right ankle, Karimi is hoping to be back to his best by the time the World Cup kicks off in June.

COACH

Branko Ivankovic

Coaching Iran is one of world sport's most precarious jobs. Everything has to happen "in the name of Allah" and many custodians of the Muslim faith are hostile to an "infidel" guiding the national team's fortunes. "When are you finally going to understand that it is better to have a coach who is a Muslim than some alcoholic from Yugoslavia?" thundered an ayatollah from the pulpit of Tehran's Ark Mosque on the eve of the 1998 World Cup. The coach at that time was Tomislav Ivic, a Croatian well respected in sporting circles. This time the responsibility will fall to Branko Ivankovic, a globetrotting sports professor who recently coached Hanover in Germany's second division. Four years ago, Ivankovic led the Iranian Under-23 team to victory at the Asian Games. Since then he has integrated several of these youngsters into the first team, including striker Arash Borhani (22) and the gifted 25-year-old playmaker Javad Nekunam. The players love Ivankovic, and when he came in for criticism following a poor game at the end of last year, they quickly rallied behind his cause. Patience is required, they argued; the coach is trying out a lot of things and not all of them are going to work first time round.