Graham Arnold Comments Ahead of Senegal Clash in World Cup
Australian Graham Arnold, coach of the Iraqi national team, confirmed that the Lions of Mesopotamia will enter the match against Senegal with a winning mentality only, despite both teams being officially out of the qualification race for the 2026 World Cup held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
After two complete rounds, Iraq and Senegal stand at the same balance: zero points. Iraq fell to Norway 4-1, then to France 3-0, while Senegal lost to France 3-1 and to Norway 3-2. Tomorrow's match has become a battle of honor and a chance to make history, nothing more.
Arnold said at the pre-match press conference: "Tomorrow we face the African champion Senegal in an extraordinary experience against one of the continent's strongest teams. Our situation is clear, we have nothing to lose, so we will go only for the win. Today's training was the best since we arrived, and the players are charged with high fighting spirit and great enthusiasm to settle the match."
The coach spoke about his time with the team: "In the eight months with Iraq, I have seen nothing but full commitment and strong spirit, whether in the locker room or on the field. The mistakes in the matches against Norway and France were harsh, but they are important lessons we must learn from for the future. Iraq returned to the World Cup after an absence of 40 years, and this in itself is a historic moment, and we aspire to add a new chapter to it by defeating Senegal."
Regarding the circulating news about his reluctance to renew, Arnold clarified: "My contract with the Iraqi federation ends in six weeks. I spoke with Captain Younis Mahmoud and we agreed to postpone the renewal file until after the conclusion of the tournament. All our focus now is on the Senegal match and how to come out of it with a positive result."
He added: "I am very proud to represent Iraq in the World Cup. This is my fourth participation in the World Cup between being an assistant and a head coach, and the experience has been extremely special. The Iraqi fans have been a true support for us throughout the tournament, successfully putting everything aside and rallying around football."
The Lions of Mesopotamia delegation arrived in Toronto today, amidst festive atmospheres from the Iraqi communities in Canada who accompanied the players to the hotel residence and urged them to give their best in the final match.
After two complete rounds, Iraq and Senegal stand at the same balance: zero points. Iraq fell to Norway 4-1, then to France 3-0, while Senegal lost to France 3-1 and to Norway 3-2. Tomorrow's match has become a battle of honor and a chance to make history, nothing more.
Arnold said at the pre-match press conference: "Tomorrow we face the African champion Senegal in an extraordinary experience against one of the continent's strongest teams. Our situation is clear, we have nothing to lose, so we will go only for the win. Today's training was the best since we arrived, and the players are charged with high fighting spirit and great enthusiasm to settle the match."
The coach spoke about his time with the team: "In the eight months with Iraq, I have seen nothing but full commitment and strong spirit, whether in the locker room or on the field. The mistakes in the matches against Norway and France were harsh, but they are important lessons we must learn from for the future. Iraq returned to the World Cup after an absence of 40 years, and this in itself is a historic moment, and we aspire to add a new chapter to it by defeating Senegal."
Regarding the circulating news about his reluctance to renew, Arnold clarified: "My contract with the Iraqi federation ends in six weeks. I spoke with Captain Younis Mahmoud and we agreed to postpone the renewal file until after the conclusion of the tournament. All our focus now is on the Senegal match and how to come out of it with a positive result."
He added: "I am very proud to represent Iraq in the World Cup. This is my fourth participation in the World Cup between being an assistant and a head coach, and the experience has been extremely special. The Iraqi fans have been a true support for us throughout the tournament, successfully putting everything aside and rallying around football."
The Lions of Mesopotamia delegation arrived in Toronto today, amidst festive atmospheres from the Iraqi communities in Canada who accompanied the players to the hotel residence and urged them to give their best in the final match.
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