（asiancup2004.com） TEHRAN – AFC Player of the Year Mehdi Mahdavakia and talismanic striker Ali Daei are to spearhead Iran’s challenge at the Asian Cup 2004 finals in China, which begins this weekend.

　　The Iran Football Federation named their final 22-man squad for Asia’s biggest international football competition on Monday which includes Mahdavakia, Daei, veteran defender Yahya Golmohammadi, star midfielder Ali Karimi and young stars Hossein Kaebi, Eman Mobali and Arash Borhani.

　　The most notable absentees from Branko Ivankovic’s squad are left midfielder Alireza Vahedinikbakht and Olympic team skipper Moharram Navidkia, who miss the tournament through injury, and Al Wasl forward Farhad Majidi, who has declined to play for his national team.

　　The Iranian side are due to leave for China on Wednesday and kick off their Group D campaign against Thailand in Chongqing on Tuesday, July 20. They take on Oman on July 24 before facing defending champions Japan in a pivotal clash on July 28.

　　Iran Asian Cup squad

　　Goalkeepers: Ebrahim Mirzapour (Foulad), Hassan Rodbarian (Pas), Mahdi Rahmati (Sepahan)

　　Defenders: Yahya Golmohammadi (Pirouzi), Mohammad Nosrati (Pas), Ebrahim Taghipour (Zob Ahan), Sattar Zare (Bargh), Jalal Kameli (Foulad), Rahman Rezaei (FC Messina/ITA)

　　Midfielders: Eman Mobali (Foulad), Mohammad Alavi (Foulad), Hossein Kaebi (Foulad), Ali Badavi (Foulad), Mehdi Amirabadi (Saipa), Farzad Majidi (Esteghlal), Javad Nekounam (Pas), Hamed Kavianpour (Pirouzi)

　　Strikers: Ali Daei (Pirouzi), Mehdi Mahdavikia (Hamburg SV/GER), Ali Karimi (Al Ahli/UAE), Arash Borhani (Pas), Reza Enayati (Esteghlal)