LEIPZIG, June 20 (Xinhua) -- In theory, World Cup debutants Angola have a ray of hope to advance to the knockout stage from Group D if they beat Iran here on Wednesday and Mexico lose to Portugal at the same time.

    Then both Angola and Mexico will have four points and the goal difference will be the decider for qualifiers. But in fact, a tie between Portugal and Mexico will guarantee the two the berths in the second stage with Portugal the first-placer and Mexico the second.

    Portugal edged Angola 1-0 and beat Iran 2-0, while Mexico crushed Iran 3-1 and drew with Angola 0-0.

    And the qualifiers of Group D will meet either Argentina or the Netherlands from Group C in the knockout stage. It is hard to say whether Argentina are tougher than the Netherlands or not. So, it may be a "wise" strategy for both Portugal and Mexico to preserve their strength in their head-to-head clash, thus creating a tie naturally.

    So, most likely, the result of the Angola-Iran duel will not change the situation, and the Africans and the Asians will just fight for pride.

    Angola is a team with blazing speed, a ton of heart, and a stout defense. During African zone qualifications, Angola allowed only six goals, the second-fewest among African sides in qualifying. And their defense was proved solid in their World Cup games against soccer giants Portugal and Mexico, in which they conceded only one goal.

    Having a successful coach that you can trust, and who knows your team, is also a plus. Coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves insisted his team would target a place in the last 16 of the World Cup after holding Mexico to a draw.

    Angola's key player is star striker Fabrice "Akwa" Maieco. An outspoken captain and national hero, Akwa is the heart and soul of the squad. He will try his best to score a goal or more in the Iran game.

    However, lack of experience could be a disadvantage for Angola,as well as the need to generate scores. Angola scored only 12 goals during the qualifying tournament, the lowest of any of the five African finalists.

    As for Iran, they had been recognized as the strongest Asian qualifiers and most likely to make a splash in the World Cup finals, but the losses to Mexico and Portugal sent them packed.

    The Iranians showed their great skills and determination in the previous two Group D matches, playing fast-paced attacking football with their stronger opponents and exerting great pressure on those "giants". However, the results were not satisfactory. They became the first Asian team to go home.

    No one can deny that led by Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic, this Iranian team is the best in the history of Iranian soccer. It boasts a group of star players and most of them play for German first division clubs.

    Ali Karimi, the 2004 Asian Player of the Year, began playing for the national squad when he was 20 years old. "The Wizard of Tehran" helped Iran win the 1998 Asian Games, scoring the decisive goal in the finals. He now plays for Bayern Munich.

    Karimi began his career as an attacking midfielder. He plays forward for the national team. He's well known for acrobatic shots, clutch headers and an uncanny ability to control the ball. This latter skill has earned him the nickname, "Asian Maradona."

    Ali Daei, 37, the elder stateman of the squad, is a living legend. He's the all-time leading scorer in international matches for Iran.

    Vahid Hashemian is another formidable forward for Iran. Hashemian had issues with the Iranian Football Federations. To the delight of Iranian soccer fans, Hashemian returned to the national team, and his impact has been appreciated. During the 2006 World Cup qualifications, Hashemian scored decisive goals against Qatar and Japan. Hashemian currently plays for Hanover 96.

    Mehdi Mahdavikia is Iran's premium set-up midfielder. His crosses are superb and his quickness allows him to separate from defenders and make quality passes. Mahdavikia can also score when needed.

    Hossein Kaebi is Iran's emerging new superstar. He's a little guy with lots of speed, and he plays the game with plenty of passion. Sometimes his enthusiasm and temperament can get the bestof him.

    Many of Iran's players have experience playing in Germany. Fivemembers of Iran's squad lace up their cleats for Bundesliga clubs:Ali Karimi (Bayern Munich), Vahid Hashemian (Hanover), Mehdi Mahdavikia (Hamburg), Moharram Navidkia (Bochum), and Fereydoon Zandi (Kaiserslautern).

    It is expected that Iran will play all out in their last World Cup game against Angola to show their value for their country and Asia. Enditem