AFP - The Iranian team is struggling with a bout of the flu at the Asian Cup as they continue their bid to lift a record fourth continental title.
"We have half of our team either semi-sick or really sick," Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi said after Team Melli became the first to book a quarter-final spot when they edged past North Korea 1-0 on Saturday.
"So we will really have to get the whole team healthy in the next few days."
The 46-year-old coach said he was among the victims of an outbreak which first hit ahead of the tournament and has also affected team captain and midfielder Javad Nekonam.
Iran, who also outlasted old foes and defending champions Iraq 2-1 in their opening match, face the United Arab Emirates in their last Group D clash, hoping to maintain their form and end a 35-year title drought.
Ghotbi said earlier it takes mental toughness and total fitness to win the championship through six matches over three weeks.
He added that the team's medical staff was doing a "good job" to solve what he called a "minor flu."
The problem started with Nekonam and "then I had the flu for several days and it has gone through two, three, up to four players at a time."
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