“Surprise the world”… Iraq’s coach reveals his goals in the World Cup | sports

The Australian coach of the Iraqi national football team, Graham Arnold, said that there is no room for fear, as the unqualified “Lions of Mesopotamia” prepare to face Norway and its giant Erling Haaland in their first World Cup match in 40 years.

Iraq opens its campaign on Tuesday against Norway in Boston in the ninth “Group of Death,” which also includes title hopefuls France and African strong Senegal.

Simply qualifying for the finals was a major achievement for Iraq, which participated for the first and last time in the World Cup in 1986, but Arnold believes that this is not enough.

Arnold, who led his country, Australia, to the round of 16 in 2022, said: “We have to believe in ourselves and play with courage.”

He added: “Qualifying is not enough. I want more. We have nothing to lose and we have everything to gain. We have to give our best and try to surprise the world.”

Iraq beat Bolivia 2-1 in a play-off held in March, putting an end to a long qualifying campaign that spanned 21 matches, during which its fortunes were also severely damaged by the war in neighboring Iran.

Arnold said, “The players traveled a lot. There was a lot of pressure on them from 46 million fans obsessed with football, because this is the situation in Iraq.”

He added, “They are more obsessed with football than any country I have ever visited.”

Huge admiration for Haaland

Iraq lost its three matches in the group stage during its first participation in the World Cup four decades ago in Mexico, and will face a difficult task to avoid a similar fate in the North American World Cup.

Arnold, who will have to develop a plan to limit the danger of Manchester City striker Haaland, the top scorer in European qualifiers with 16 goals in eight matches, said, “The players played many matches under great pressure.”

He added, “He is an exceptional player. I am very impressed with the way he plays. Haaland, the number nine striker, is amazing.”

He continued, “We have to trust ourselves, and what we cannot do is be afraid to go on the field to face these players. They must be enthusiastic and ready to engage in individual confrontations. I believe that this is what the Iraqis have, they have a high fighting spirit.”