Iran to train in three European states ahead of World Cup

IRNA - Iran's football team will hold training camps in the three European countries of Switzerland, Croatia, and Germany before the 2006 World Cup, announced the federation here Tuesday.

The team is scheduled to start the three-stage training in Switzerland from May 8-18.

No friendly has been organized during the period.

The federation said the squad will return home and head for Croatia on May 24.

Croat manager Branko Ivankovic will field the team against his country's national side and another team in two warm-up matches.

According to the schedule, the team will be back home on June 3 and depart for Germany in a couple of days to hold the last stage of its camp.

Iran will play friendlies in Germany, the venue of the 2006 World Cup.

Drawn with Portugal, Mexico, and Angola in Group D, Iran will play its opening match against Mexico in Nuremberg on June 11.