Daei: Iran ready to defeat Kuwait

PRESS TV - TEHRAN, Iran's head coach Ali Daei is upbeat about performance of the national team, promising that Asia's heavyweight will beat Kuwait.

Before the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, Daei, the former national team captain, said that three-time World Cup qualifier Iran is completely ready to face-off against Kuwait.

"We did not use our potential against Syria, now I hope Iran's national team will play against Kuwait with the fewest number of mistakes to gain three points from the game," the former Asian Player of the Year told reporters Sunday evening after Iran's squad arrived in Kuwait.

Daei, Iran's all-time leading scorer with 109 goals, voiced hope his team's goalless streak will be snapped in the upcoming game as Iran has not scored in six matches.

"Iran is the stronger team; they have a lot of European-based players, but it will be difficult for them," Kuwait's Croatian coach Radion Gacanin told Reuters.

"In football, anyone can beat anyone. We are at home, we have to win and they have not played well lately, it's been bad for them," he added.

The three-time Asian champions had a goalless draw against Syria in Tehran in the opening match of Group Five of the Asian World Cup qualifying tournaments.