Thaer Adnan: Social media does not choose Iraq's squad and Aymen Hussein is indispensable

In a special press reading, Iraqi coach Thaer Adnan opened complex files concerning the options of the national team and the vision of Australian manager Graham Arnold, confirming that the true evaluation of the Lions of Mesopotamia remains the prerogative of the coaching staff, away from the noise of social media platforms. He highlighted the situation of top scorer Aymen Hussein and the goalkeeping file ahead of upcoming challenges.

Aymen Hussein, a 30-year-old forward currently playing for Pakhtakor, brings immense technical and tactical value to coach Graham Arnold's plans due to his attacking prowess and prominent leadership role on the field.

Iraqi fans recall Aymen Hussein's historic participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he scored Iraq's only goal in the tournament with a brilliant header against Norway, repeating the achievement of the late legend Ahmed Radhi before injury sidelined him.

Iraqi star Aymen Hussein recently joined the hundred club while wearing the black jersey during the match against Saudi Arabia in the AFC Asian Cup.

Coach Thaer Adnan confirmed in exclusive statements that determining player levels and addressing performance declines is an exclusive responsibility of the coach and his assistant staff, stating:

"Evaluating the players of the Iraq national team and identifying those who are suffering from a decline in performance is the coach's responsibility, away from the criticisms and opinions circulating on social media. There are players who maintain their levels despite the attacks directed at them, and the coach is best positioned to determine who serves the team."

He added: "The selection of new players is not dictated by social media but determined by Arnold's strategy. A player may possess high attacking skills but lack defensive duties, or vice versa, and the call-up is entirely subject to the coach's philosophy and his technical needs."

Regarding Aymen Hussein's situation and his declining scoring rate with Pakhtakor, where he scored one goal and provided another in 10 domestic matches while going goalless in 3 matches in the AFC Champions League Elite, Adnan clarified:

"The Iraqi national team is still in urgent need of Aymen Hussein's services as he is an influential player with significant accumulated experience. It is very important to prepare a substitute striker alongside him, but that does not diminish his importance and pivotal role in the lineup during the upcoming phase."

Thaer Adnan concluded his talk with Yalla Shoot by discussing goalkeeping, detailing two options:

"If the goal is to compete directly in the AFC Asian Cup 2027, it is better to rely on experienced goalkeepers. However, if the vision is to build a team for the future, it is essential to give opportunities to young goalkeepers or those who have not had enough chances, like Kamil Saad and Ali Kazem, who has been impressive recently."