Iraq coach urges outsiders to ‘shock the world’

BOSTON: Iraq coach Graham Arnold said there is no room for fear as his unfancied side prepare to face Erling Haaland and Norway in their first World Cup match in 40 years.

The Lions of Mesopotamia play Norway in Boston on Tuesday in their opening game in Group I, which also features title contenders France and African powerhouses Senegal.

Simply getting to the finals was an enormous achievement for Iraq, who last graced the World Cup in 1986, but for Arnold that is not enough.

“We’ve got to believe in ourselves and we’ve got to go out there and be brave to play,” said Arnold, who led his native Australia to the last 16 in 2022.

“Qualification is not enough. I want more,” he added. “We’ve only got everything to win and not to lose.

“We’ve got to perform to our best and try to shock the world.”

Iraq defeated Bolivia 2-1 in a play-off in March, the end of an interminable 21-match qualifying campaign where their prospects of reaching the finals were also seriously compromised by the war in neighbouring Iran.

“There’s been a hell of a lot of travel the players have gone through. There’s been a lot of pressure on their shoulders from 46 million obsessed football fans because that’s what Iraq is,” Arnold reflected.

“They’re obsessed with their football more than any nation really that I’ve ever been to.”

Iraq lost all three of their group games on their World Cup debut four decades ago and will have their work cut to avoid a similar fate in North America.

“The boys have been through a lot of pressure games,” said Arnold, who must try and devise a plan to subdue Manchester City star Haaland, the leading scorer in European qualifying with 16 goals in eight games.

“He’s an outstanding player. I actually adore the way he plays. Haaland is just an incredible number nine,” said Arnold.

“We’ve got to back ourselves and what we can’t do is be scared to go on the field and play against guys.

“They’ve got to be excited and go out there and be prepared for the one v one fight. And I think that’s one thing Iraqis do have, they’ve got a great fighting spirit.”