Iraq Faces Three Critical Tests in Gulf Cup 27
Coach Saad Hafiz believes that the Iraqi national team will face a difficult task in the Gulf Cup 'Gulf Cup 27' hosted by Saudi Arabia, indicating that the chances of the Lions of Mesopotamia advancing will be linked to overcoming three difficult tests within Group A.
Hafiz's statements came after the tournament draw was held today, Tuesday, placing Iraq alongside Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait in a group he described as the toughest compared to Group B, which includes Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Yemen.
Hafiz told 'win' that Group A is complicated and opens the door to all possibilities, emphasizing that all its teams are capable of qualifying for the semi-finals.
He added that Saudi Arabia will play with the advantage of home ground and fans, entering the tournament with the ambition of winning, which makes facing them an extremely difficult test requiring high concentration from the players and technical staff throughout the 90 minutes.
Regarding the Omani team, Hafiz explained that it is undergoing a clear development phase under the leadership of Moroccan coach Tarik Sektioui and will be a strong competitor for the second ticket in the group.
He pointed out that Iraq will face a different version of Oman compared to what was seen in the World Cup qualifiers or Gulf Cup 25, increasing the complexity of the task.
As for Kuwait, the coach considered it a team with a special drive in the Gulf tournament, considering it their favorite championship. He reminded that Iraq was unable to defeat the Blue in the last Asian qualifiers matches, reflecting the expected difficulty in the upcoming confrontation.
Hafiz concluded that Iraq needs to overcome three challenges to reach the advanced stages: the strength of the competitors, psychological pressure, and the physical readiness of the players.
He confirmed that if the Lions of Mesopotamia succeed in these tests, they are capable of surpassing the group stage and possibly reaching the final match scheduled for early October.
Saudi Arabia will host the tournament from September 23 to October 6, amid great fan anticipation, especially for the anticipated clash between the Saudi Green and the Iraqi national team, which will be the opening match of Group A.
Hafiz's statements came after the tournament draw was held today, Tuesday, placing Iraq alongside Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait in a group he described as the toughest compared to Group B, which includes Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Yemen.
Hafiz told 'win' that Group A is complicated and opens the door to all possibilities, emphasizing that all its teams are capable of qualifying for the semi-finals.
He added that Saudi Arabia will play with the advantage of home ground and fans, entering the tournament with the ambition of winning, which makes facing them an extremely difficult test requiring high concentration from the players and technical staff throughout the 90 minutes.
Regarding the Omani team, Hafiz explained that it is undergoing a clear development phase under the leadership of Moroccan coach Tarik Sektioui and will be a strong competitor for the second ticket in the group.
He pointed out that Iraq will face a different version of Oman compared to what was seen in the World Cup qualifiers or Gulf Cup 25, increasing the complexity of the task.
As for Kuwait, the coach considered it a team with a special drive in the Gulf tournament, considering it their favorite championship. He reminded that Iraq was unable to defeat the Blue in the last Asian qualifiers matches, reflecting the expected difficulty in the upcoming confrontation.
Hafiz concluded that Iraq needs to overcome three challenges to reach the advanced stages: the strength of the competitors, psychological pressure, and the physical readiness of the players.
He confirmed that if the Lions of Mesopotamia succeed in these tests, they are capable of surpassing the group stage and possibly reaching the final match scheduled for early October.
Saudi Arabia will host the tournament from September 23 to October 6, amid great fan anticipation, especially for the anticipated clash between the Saudi Green and the Iraqi national team, which will be the opening match of Group A.
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