Graham Arnold Comments Before Facing Andorra

Australian coach Graham Arnold spoke at the press conference ahead of the friendly match against Andorra about several topics, most notably the current camp atmosphere, the team's preparations for the 2026 World Cup, and the messages he received after the historic qualification for the World Cup finals.

Arnold confirmed that from the first day he took on the task of coaching the Lions of Mesopotamia, he abolished the "separate tables" system that separated local and professional players. He said his decision was clear: to gather everyone at one table to become like brothers within the camp. 

The Australian coach explained that the goal of this step is to build a family culture within the team and make the players feel that they represent one nation before being professional players. He added, "What matters to me is that the players enter the field to make their families and the Iraqi people proud of them because Iraq deserves to be proud of its team."

Arnold revealed that he received a text message from his former coach, the Dutch legend Guus Hiddink, expressing his pride and praise for his pupil's success in leading Iraq to the 2026 World Cup finals. The coach considered this message as an additional motivation for him and the players before the global challenge.

The coach also touched on his family's concerns before coming to Baghdad, noting that they were 75% worried due to the prevailing stereotype about Iraq. However, he confirmed that the reality on the ground was entirely different, as the country is rapidly developing, and the Iraqi people are wonderful and passionate about football, which made him quickly adapt and feel comfortable with the team and the fans.

Although Arnold's talk came before the friendly against Andorra, his questions extended to the World Cup draw, which placed Iraq in a tough group that includes Norway, France, and Senegal. The Australian coach specifically spoke about Norway's striker Erling Haaland, describing him as an "incredible striker," but he emphasized that the Iraqi team has tall defenders capable of monitoring him and dealing with his physical strength.

Before delving into World Cup details, Arnold is currently focusing on the friendly against Andorra, which will take place tomorrow in Girona. The coach considers it the first real test to implement his ideas and assess the readiness of the players, whether local or professional, after uniting them under the "one family" umbrella he always talks about.

The Lions of Mesopotamia enter the match with high spirits after qualifying, led by a coach who sees the achievement of reaching the World Cup as just the beginning, and the next goal is to make Iraq proud of its men's performance on the world's biggest football stage.