Germany once again conjured up the result they needed out of a disappointing performance here last night. Two goals in five minutes just after the break, including a trademark header by the captain Juergen Klinsmann, brought the European champions the victory they needed to finish top of Group F - and thereby earn a second-round meeting with Mexico rather than Holland, which would have been the cost of a draw.

Fresh from their morale-boosting win over the United States, Iran arrived with familiar tactics - five men across the back with the wing-backs going forward only to support a counter-attack.

But whatever mighty wave of Teutonic power the Iranians expected was slow in coming. For the opening 45 minutes the Germans looked the disorganised, misfiring machine they had through most of the qualifying and in their first two group games.

Not even four changes to the side made any immediate difference. As promised, Berti Vogts revamped his midfield by bringing in the 37-year-old Lothar Matthaus along with Thomas Helmer following his recovery from injury.

Those changes left only three players under 30 in the side, but experience counted for little early on as Berti's old boys tried to batter their way through the middle and failed miserably.

Oliver Bierhoff shot wide and Jorg Heinrich fired in another attempt which Ahmad-Reza Abedzadeh in the Iran goal saved comfortably. That was the sum total of Germany's first-half menace and the frustration finally got to Klinsmann who was booked for arguing with the referee.

Iran's ability to break up the German movement and break forward quickly and in numbers looked far more threatening. Nothing else but a win would do for the Iranians and they fashioned three quality long-range shots on goal before the break, all executed by their midfield creator Karim Bagheri.

His first thumped into Andreas Kopke's arms, his second from a 25-yard free-kick was dropped by the goalkeeper and grabbed at the second attempt and his third from similar range forced Kopke to save low down.

Germany clearly needed to produce something to deflate the Iranians' growing confidence. Inevitably, given their pedigree, they needed only five minutes of the new half to go ahead with a text-book goal, after finally managing to get to the byline to deliver a good old-fashioned cross.

The supplier was the ever-willing Thomas Hassler, roaming behind the front two and this time receiving a ball in space down the right. After a quick look up he floated in a cross for Bierhoff, centrally positioned on the six-yard line, who rose between two defenders and headed home. Milan's recent £8.75 million signing was immediately swamped.

The Germans were suddenly transformed and five minutes later they extended their lead through a Klinsmann classic. A long ball from the back was met by Heinrich and headed into the path of Bierhoff. His lashed shot cannoned against the post and bounced back at the perfect height for Klinsmann to produce one of his signature diving headers. The Iranians looked stunned, the Germans looked impregnable.

However, appearances can be deceptive and German striker Oliver Bierhoff admitted after the match that his side had been fearful of Iran pulling off a World Cup shock in Montpellier. "It was not easy, especially in the first half. When the score is 00, there is always this fear. There were some moments when we even thought the Iranians would get the goal," said Bierhoff.

"But the second half was better and after we scored, we managed to play a better game. I thought our new midfield combination looked very successful."

Meanwhile Iran coach Jalal Talebi was far from disheartened by his side's defeat. "I think Iranian football will benefit from what happened here for many years to come," he said.