Iran fired up to leave World Cup with victory

FRANKFURT, June 18 (Reuters) After their early elimination from the World Cup, Iran now want to depart by showing the world their true worth in their final match against Angola on Wednesday.

Iran missed their last chance to qualify for the second stage of the tournament when they lost 2-0 to Portugal in Group D yesterday, helping that side seal their place in the next round.

''We haven't shown what we can do at all,'' midfielder Ferydoon Zandi told reporters after the match. ''But now, we can play without pressure, maybe that has been a factor. We want to leave with a victory now.'' Iran, whose presence in Germany has repeatedly been overshadowed by diplomacy and politics, have not been able to rely fully on key players because of injuries, and their younger players simply lacked the experience to keep up for two halves.

Coach Branko Ivankovic left out veteran striker Ali Daei against Portugal after the 37-year old suffered a back injury -- and was criticised for his performance -- in the side's first match, a 3-1 defeat against Mexico.

FIRED UP Ali Karimi, Zandi and midfield playmaker Mehdi Mahdavikia have all had their fair deal of problems during the preparation.

Defender and yesterday's captain Yahya Golmohammadi now looks uncertain for the last match after a shoulder injury against Portugal.

But the team are fired up to take at least one World Cup finals victory back home, their second after beating the United States 2-1 in 1998 in France.

''I want my players to treat it like life and death,'' said Ivankovic, a national hero when he led Iran to the Asian Games title in 2002 but has now come under fire for the side's World Cup performance.

''We should not need motivating just because we are out.'' Iran play Angola on June 21 and are not in for an easy game.

Angola held Mexico to a 0-0 draw after losing 1-0 to Portugal and still stand a chance to qualify for the next round.

Iran's elimination helps politicians and diplomats in Iran and Europe save face after talk that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, under fire from the West in a nuclear dispute and following controversial comments, was to have watched the side play in Germany if they had made it through to the second round.

REUTERS AY KP1635