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FIFA World Cup
A 5-0 defeat to Senegal on Friday brought the curtains down on Iraq's return to the global stage after 40 years, having lost 3-0 to France and 4-1 to Norway in their earlier Group I matches.
Qualification to the global stage was secured after an arduous journey but Arnold said Iraq can look forward to consistently rubbing shoulders with the world's best if they work on improving their domestic league.
Qualification to the global stage was secured after an arduous journey but Arnold said Iraq can look forward to consistently rubbing shoulders with the world's best if they work on improving their domestic league.
“The reality is, your national team is as strong as your local league. If your local league is not that strong, when you play against these type of opponents, you get punished," said Arnold.
“These boys, they’ve only ever seen these kind of players play on TV. They’ve never played against this calibre of players before. Everything about it, it was a surprise to them.
"I used to say it in Australia all the time, the national team is only as strong as your local leagues because that’s where the development comes from, and the players’ standard of games every week comes from.”
“These boys, they’ve only ever seen these kind of players play on TV. They’ve never played against this calibre of players before. Everything about it, it was a surprise to them.
"I used to say it in Australia all the time, the national team is only as strong as your local leagues because that’s where the development comes from, and the players’ standard of games every week comes from.”
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Arnold, who guided his native Australia at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, said despite the early exit, Iraq had every right to be proud of their journey.
"Everyone in Iraq should be proud of the fact that we made it here and we performed very well in two out of the three games," said Arnold, with the tactician ruing Rebin Sulaka's red card after just 13 minutes against Senegal.
"Everyone in Iraq should be proud of the fact that we made it here and we performed very well in two out of the three games," said Arnold, with the tactician ruing Rebin Sulaka's red card after just 13 minutes against Senegal.
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“My job when I first came in was to qualify them for the World Cup. The miracle happened.
“It’s been an enjoyable journey, an enjoyable World Cup, even if the results haven’t been that great. But hopefully the players will go away from this, enjoying the experience of being at a World Cup for the first time in 40 years, but also learning from mistakes."
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images, AFP
“It’s been an enjoyable journey, an enjoyable World Cup, even if the results haven’t been that great. But hopefully the players will go away from this, enjoying the experience of being at a World Cup for the first time in 40 years, but also learning from mistakes."
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images, AFP
