Position: Defender
Born: 20.01.82
Club: Esteghlal Ahvaz

Another player with a bright future, Ali Badavi hasn't yet moved the Iranian old guard on - but that time is getting closer by the day.

Already past the 25-cap mark despite being short of his 25th birthday, the Esteghlal Ahvaz man could be a long-term fixture in 'Team Melli', although he may need to curb his hot-headed approach which has caused him trouble in the past.

An on-pitch dispute with team-mate Rahman Rezaei in an Asian Cup match in 2004 was the start of a bad time for Badavi and he left club side Foolad soon after.

Now ensconced in the Esteghlal first team and on the brink of breaking into the national side (his four appearances in qualifying gave him 349 minutes of playing time), Badavi is the sort of player who could grasp the nettle this summer.

• 15 Arash Borhani
• 10 Ali Daei
• 4 Yahya Golmohammadi
• 9 Vahid Hashemian
• 13 Hossein Kaabi
• 8 Ali Karimi
• 2 Mehdi Mahdavikia
• 1 Ebrahim Mirzapour
• 6 Javad Nekounam
• 20 Mohammad Nosrati