2 months ago
Iraq became nan 48th and last squad to suffice for nan World Cup connected Tuesday, defeating Bolivia 2-1 successful an intercontinental playoff successful Mexico to seal their first quality astatine nan finals successful 40 years.
Iraq, whose preparations for Tuesday’s playoff had been disrupted by nan warfare successful nan Middle East, will play successful Group I against France, Senegal and Norway.
Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein secured a celebrated triumph for Iraq, whose past quality astatine nan World Cup came astatine nan 1986 finals successful Mexico.
The triumph marked a triumph for Iraq’s Australian coach, Graham Arnold, who had initially sought to person Tuesday’s fixture postponed owed to nan disruption caused by nan location conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes connected Iran.
Most of nan Iraqi squad only reached Mexico aft a gruelling three-day travel from Baghdad that began pinch an overland crossing into Jordan.
But location was small motion of weariness during a assured commencement by Iraq, who took nan lead aft 9 minutes done Luton Town striker Al-Hamadi – nan 24-year-old who moved to Liverpool arsenic a toddler aft nan outbreak of nan 2003 Iraq war.
Iraq midfielder Amir Al-Ammari won a area aft a superb free-kick that was saved astatine afloat agelong from Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.
From nan consequent group portion Al-Ammari coiled a pinpoint area connected to nan caput of Al-Hamadi who nodded location for 1-0.
Iraq were good worthy nan early extremity and looked successful power until Bolivia, who had gradually grown into nan game, equalised aft 38 minutes.
Ramiro Vaca’s changeable from nan separator of nan area was controlled pinch 1 touch by Moises Paniagua and nan Morocco-based cardinal midfielder swept into nan tile of nan net.
The extremity stunned Iraq and Bolivia looked apt to drawback a 2nd aft dominating nan remainder of nan half.
Iraq regained nan lead 8 minutes into nan 2nd half, erstwhile a agelong shot guardant was nodded into nan way of substitute Marko Lawk-Farji.
Lawk-Farji’s transverse recovered skipper Hussein and nan seasoned striker clipped a first-time decorativeness into nan bottommost corner.
Bolivia pressed frantically for a extremity to unit extra-time, but Iraq’s well-marshalled defence held patient during a nerve-shredding 9 minutes of stoppage time.
