Weak bench will hurt Iran

Coach Branko Ivankovic’s failour to build a strong bench may hurt Iran should Ali Karimi or any of the other starting 11 get injured before the World Cup.

Karimi’s injury on Saturday’s Bundesliga match should send the Team Melli coaching staff into a frenzy to think up an alternative. In his four years in charge Ivankovic has been sticking to the same 11 to 15 players without taking a good look at any others.

With all the domestic leagues in their final stretches they better hope that no one else picks up any bad knocks or bruises.