At the end, a ticket for the World Cup this summer, and a place in the group of the France, Senegal and Norway teams. Iraq and Bolivia face off this Tuesday in Monterrey for one of the last tickets to the World Cup. Despite a long journey and the heavy context of the war in the Middle East, the Iraqi selection is determined. The path to the World Cup proved tortuous for the Lions of Mesopotamia.
Facing Bolivia, they will play their 21st match of the qualifying marathon on Tuesday, after having suffered like the entire region the consequences of the war in the Middle East triggered by Israel and the United States against Iran. At least 101 people have been killed in Iraq since the start of the conflict on February 28, according to a latest count from AFP.
A “difficult” last month
“I can’t do anything about politics in the Middle East, what I can do is help the national team win and make the Iraqi people happy,” said striker Ali Yousif at a press conference on the eve of this barrage. Faced with the closure of the country’s airspace, coach Graham Arnold initially requested the postponement of the barrage.
The majority of the group finally left Baghdad by road to reach Amman (Jordan), before flying to Lisbon and then reaching Monterrey on March 22 after several days of travel. At a press conference, Arnold preferred “not to talk” about the conflict, he who wanted to “detach” his players from it to avoid “damaging their brains”, while recognizing a “difficult” last month.
The opportunity to change “a life, a country”
“Representing 46 million people is unique. A lot of my work has been on the mental side. The players have to concentrate on themselves, think about their family, a few friends, but not the whole country, otherwise it’s too much pressure,” added the experienced 62-year-old technician. Graham Arnold assures that they are ready for a match that can “change a life”, and even “change a country”.
The coach further praised the “obsession with football” in Iraq and the “pride” of his group, invigorated in Monterrey by the support of supporters even in the lobby of their hotel. As their players rehearsed their scales one last time, a few hundred Iraqis from the diaspora in North America gathered Monday evening in downtown Monterrey, with flags and drums. But to be heard in a stadium which will be won over to the cause of the Bolivians will be difficult.
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