5/26/2006 Alaric Gomes, Gulf News Japan edged out a fighting China 3-2 in extra-time, while Bahrain clawed back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Iran 7-2 in the two semifinals played yesterday.

5/25/2006 fcbayern.de The 2006 World Cup finally gets underway in Germany just 16 days from now. Eleven Bayern stars are currently quartered with their national squads as the preparatory phase kicks into high gear. fcbayern.de surveys the latest news from the training camps and evaluates how Oliver Kahn and company are getting on.

5/25/2006 Reuters LISBON – When Portugal’s Brazilian-born playmaker Deco switched nationality there were doubts over whether he deserved to play for his adopted country. Since making his first appearance against Brazil in 2003, though, the quality of his passing and movement in midfield have silenced the doubters and made him a regular in the team.

5/25/2006 Christian Oliver, Reuters TEHRAN, May 25 – They call him the “Wizard of Tehran” and the “Asian Maradona” and Iran are pinning their World Cup hopes on the midfield magic of Ali Karimi.

5/25/2006 Alaric Gomes, gulfnews.com Dubai – Iran and China booked their places in contrasting styles at the end of the league stage of the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup qualifier at the Jumeirah Beach Club yesterday.

5/25/2006 Alireza Ronaghi, Reuters TEHRAN – “Professor” Branko Ivankovic used to be the darling of Iran’s football federation and fans, introducing scientific methods to the Islamic Republic and drawing up performance charts on his players.

5/24/2006 Christian Oliver, Reuters TEHRAN – He is 37 years old but he just keeps scoring goals. It is hard to imagine the Iranian national side without the veteran Ali Daei, international football’s leading goalscorer.