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AFC - As fireworks lit up the Tehran sky and hundred of thousands of Iranians took the streets of the football-crazy country waving flags, lighting fire crackers and blowing whistles to celebrate the country's qualification for next year's World Cup, Branko Ivankovic, the team's coach, was already turing his mind to the challenges which lie ahead.

Iran, Asian Cup winners on three occasions and regarded as one of the top teams in Asia, have not had the happiest of times at their two previous appearances at World Cup finals, losing two out of three games at France 98 and three out of four at Argentina 78.

Unlike Iran, Brankovic has tasted success at a World Cup final, as assistant coach to the Croatia team which came third at the 1998 World Cup.

Which makes the 51-year-old Croatian, now in his second spell as Iran coach, even more determined that his current charges should make the most of their obvious potential at next year's showpiece.

"We will go to the World Cup to achieve something there, not only to participate," the coach told reporters after the game.

"Our successful games in our group show that we are going to be an upsetting team there. We are going to be a dangerous team, not a team that goes to the World Cup to lose matches.

"Right now we have the best generation of Iranian football players," continued the likeable Croat.

"We are a big team, with big stars and, although we will be exposed to a higher level of competition in Germany, we also have enough knowledge and experience and with their technique and their power, they are able to turn against all challengers."

Ali Daei, the Iran captain who has scored more international goals than anyone in the history of the game, echoed Brankovic's sentiments, could barely contain his glee at the final whistle.

""This is one of the most beautiful days of my life, because we have made 70 million people happy," said the veteran centre forward.

"After this victory nobody will consider us a second-rate team," he added. "We're going to the World Cup with the aim of reaching the second round."

Iran's hero on the night was Mohammad Nosrati, who headed home the only goal of the game just a minute after half-time. Earlier, after four minutes, he had seen a header crash against the Bahrain post.

"I swear to God that last night I dreamed of this goal, " said the Pas player.

"After my first shot hit the post I was afriad God did not like me. But when I scored, my dream came true."

Millions of Iran fans across the country and indeed across the world will have similar sentiments.

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