Expert Voice Demands Arnold to Include National Team Star Against France

With the arrival of the Lions of Mesopotamia delegation in Philadelphia to complete preparations, the calls have increased for changes in Iraq's lineup before facing France early Monday morning in the second round of the 2026 World Cup.

Iraq enters the match with memories of a 1-4 loss to Norway last Wednesday in Boston, a match that witnessed Ayman Hussein's historic goal and a strong performance in the first half before the team physically collapsed and goals rained in from Haaland and his teammates.

Iraqi football experts warned against repeating the 65th-minute scenario against Norway, when the players' fitness fell due to high pressure and continuous running in defense and attack. The technical opinion indicated that facing technically superior teams is natural, but the important lesson is to control the rhythm and maintain tactical caution.

The most prominent point emphasized by analysts is the necessity of relying on Zidan Iqbal from the start. The midfielder's touches against Norway were described as "magical" despite coming off the bench. 

The reason for the demand is clear: Iqbal has the ability to receive the ball from defense under pressure and smoothly transition it to the attack line. This feature is missing in Iraq's midfield when subjected to high pressure from teams like France. 

The technical opinion confirmed that the absence of Iqbal and Marco Faraj from the starting lineup against Norway was one of the reasons for the performance deterioration after the first hour. Therefore, there is a strong expectation to see the duo start in Philadelphia.

Medical reports put a question mark over Ali Jassim's readiness to start. The winger is suffering from neck pain after a collision in the Norway match, and despite his insistence on participating, the technical staff may prefer not to risk him from the first minute and save him for the second half or the Senegal match.

The potential absence of Ali Jassim increases the importance of Zidan Iqbal's presence, as he would be the missing link in building the play and transitioning the ball from the back.