Graham Arnold Places Three Trump Cards Against Senegal

Australian Graham Arnold, the coach of the Iraqi national team, is putting the final touches on his plan to face the crucial match against Senegal tomorrow, Friday, at the end of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The match, scheduled at Toronto Stadium at 10 PM Baghdad time, could be the last stop for the Lions of Mesopotamia in the tournament, so Arnold is aiming to play all his offensive and defensive cards.

The Iraqi delegation's arrival in Toronto today was met with an enthusiastic reception from Iraqi fans residing in Canada, who were keen to motivate the players before the decisive encounter where there is no alternative to winning.

Arnold's most prominent weapon is striker Ayman Hussein. The coach preferred to withdraw him early against France after he felt some pain to avoid losing him for the decisive match. Currently, Ayman is undergoing an intensive rehabilitation program by the medical staff to ensure he is 100% ready.

Ayman's role will be pivotal in breaking Senegal's net, whether by exploiting crosses or set pieces. The motivation is doubled for the player, as he seeks to score a second goal that would grant him the title of Iraq's all-time top scorer in World Cup finals, surpassing the late Ahmed Radhi's record.

Iraq missed the element of dribbling and through passes against France due to Ali Jassim's absence with a neck injury. Ali was a spark of activity against Norway, and from his play came Ayman's only goal in the tournament so far, as well as creating several dangerous balls that were not capitalized on.

Ali Jassim's return means regaining an important tool in Arnold's hand to break Senegal's defensive block. His ability to pull defenders and deliver killer passes will be the key to reaching the goal for Ayman and Al-Hammadi.

At the back, Arnold relies entirely on Akram Hashem. The player is considered a fixed piece in the coach's lineup due to his calmness, stability, and success in stopping attackers' movements.

Akram's task will double against Senegal. He must first support Zaid Tahseen and restore his confidence after the mistake against France, and secondly, take responsibility for closely monitoring star Sadio Mane to extinguish the most dangerous threat in the Senegalese team.