Iran coach Branko Ivankovic has hailed his team's four German-based stars ahead of the country's appearance at this summer's World Cup.
Bayern Munich's Ali Karimi, Hamburg's Mehdi Mahdavikia, Ferydoon Zandi of Kaiserslautern and Hanover 96 striker Vahid Hashemian will lead the nation into their third World Cup with the Iranians setting a target of progressing to the second round for the first time in their history.
'They are my key players, they form the skeleton of our team,' said the Croatian coach of the Bundesliga quartet.
'Mahdavikia had an outstanding season. Ali Karimi is the soul of our game. Zandi and Hashemian have the capabilities to decide the game.
'The whole fabric of our team with experienced, young and key players make us a strong team.'
Iran made their first World Cup appearance in Argentina in 1978, when they sprung a surprise by drawing with Scotland, but it was 20 years before they they next played in the finals, qualifying for France 98 at the expense of Australia.
At the finals they failed to progress to the knockout phase but did defeat the United States 2-1 in a much-hyped meeting in Lyon.
In Germany, they have been drawn to face Portugal, Mexico and Angola in Group D.
