Jalal Hassan, the goalkeeper of Al-Zawraa and the Iraqi national team, faces doubled challenges in the current period, after returning from injury and facing public criticism following a 2-2 draw with Amanat Baghdad in the 31st round of the Iraqi Stars League.

The 'Al-Nawaris' held the veteran goalkeeper responsible for the result, at a time when he seeks to regain his usual form and reconcile with the fans before the upcoming commitments.

Jalal has been absent from Al-Zawraa since mid-March due to a muscle injury that also kept him from guarding the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' in the World Cup playoff against Bolivia.

Despite receiving the green light from the medical staff to return to the field, the 34-year-old goalkeeper feels he has not yet reached full readiness. Therefore, he focuses in training on regaining the physical flexibility and scoring sense he was known for before the break.

Time is not on his side, as the announcement of the Iraqi national team list for the World Cup approaches, making each training session a crucial test for him.

Jalal realizes that regaining the fans' trust does not solely rely on physical effort, but also requires strong psychological support. The goalkeeper himself pointed out the importance of this aspect after the Amanat Baghdad match, affirming that he needs the support of coach Luay Salah at Al-Zawraa, as he previously received from coach Graham Arnold in the national team.

The relationship he had with Arnold gave Jalal an advantage in the Iraqi goalkeeping position for years, which makes him bet on regaining this role again.

The brilliance of Ahmed Basil, the police goalkeeper, in recent matches has made the competition for the main goalkeeper position in the national team more intense. Basil has become a preferred choice for the technical staff, adding additional pressure on Jalal Hassan.

However, this reality serves as motivation for the veteran goalkeeper. The fair competition between him and Basil drives him to give his best, especially since the dream is shared between them: protecting Iraq's goal in the World Cup and standing against the giants of world football.

Jalal Hassan knows that the road is no longer as easy as it was, but his extensive experience may be his weapon to regain his position. The remaining rounds of the league, along with intensive training, will be the last opportunity to convince everyone that he is still the number one.