"Delighted for the players, very good boys, very happy for the 46 million Iraqis. Hopefully it will help change the perception of Iraq and the football in Iraq. Doing something in the World Cup nobody expects us to do. Let's shock the world."
"Despite the dire economic situation and the war, our national team won. We in Iraq excel in exceptional circumstances. We are living through a war that has nothing to do with us, because it's between Iran, America and Israel."
Iraq's national football team has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 after a 2-1 playoff victory over Bolivia. The team faced significant challenges, including a 25-hour journey and a rejected request for postponement due to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran. Coach Graham Arnold expressed delight for the players and the Iraqi people, hoping the achievement would change perceptions of Iraq. Despite the war's toll, Iraqis celebrated with a national holiday, showcasing resilience amid adversity.
Read at www.dw.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]