Does Karimi really hold the key to Iran’s success?

Many reports suggest that Ali Karimi is the key to Iran’s success, and many Team Melli fans are buying it. I disagree!

First of all, Karimi is coming off an injury. It is not fair to him to put all this pressure on him and him alone.

Then, even if he gets back in top football shape on time for the opener against Mexico, he will not be the key player. Karimi has always been and still is one of the most important pieces of Team Melli puzzle, but he has never been the center piece. For years, that was Ali Daei’s role, but now, I think, the team plays more as a collective.

If I had to pick one single most important player on the team, I’d say it is Mehdi Mahdavikia. When Mahdavikia performs, the team clicks.

This is not to say that Karimi is not important. To the contrary he is, but he is not the one guy that makes everything happen. However, he may change that this summer and establish himself as “the man” for the next few years, just like Daei did for over ten years and up to a couple of years ago.