The coach of the Iraqi national football team, Graham Arnold, expressed his satisfaction with the performance of his players in the first leg of the Asian playoff against the UAE, which ended in a 1-1 draw. He emphasized that the team has completed half the journey and is looking forward to securing qualification in the second leg, scheduled to be played in Basra.
At the post-match press conference, Arnold said that the match witnessed "a fantastic performance from both teams," adding that "the fans enjoyed a high level of play."
He further stated that "luck was not on the side of the Iraqi team in a number of opportunities, and it was possible to decide the result during the first half." Arnold explained that he "adopted a high-pressing style from the start of the match to deny the UAE players possession and control of the game's tempo," emphasizing that "the team performed as expected and secured a result that can be built upon in the second leg." The Iraqi national team coach addressed the fans, urging them to attend and support the team at Basra International Stadium, saying, "We have 90 crucial minutes ahead of us in the second leg, and we need the support of our fans. We anticipate 65,000 supporters to cheer on the players and help us successfully complete the mission."
Arnold expressed his confidence in his players' ability to deliver a better performance in the return match and secure qualification with the support of the
Our national team coach: We performed well against the UAE and we look forward to securing qualification in Basra.
