2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers - Iraq's Journey

[Chounz]

Originally Posted by Basrawii

I don't know if I should take this as a compliment

I wouldn't.

[FromBaghdadWithLove]

Originally Posted by Basrawii

Did u c my facebook album?

Yeah I did, don't worry I'm going to do it in the match on Wednesday.

[Basrawii]

Originally Posted by FromBaghdadWithLove

Yeah I did, don't worry I'm going to do it in the match on Wednesday.

If you get caught, remember that I don't know you.

[FromBaghdadWithLove]

Originally Posted by Basrawii

If you get caught, remember that I don't know you.

Don't worry man.. lol even if I get caught, I am a Journalist after all.

[Yousifovic]

Originally Posted by FromBaghdadWithLove

Don't worry man.. lol even if I get caught, I am a Journalist after all.

take a camera and enter the field as a photographer or journalist
like what I always do

[Basrawii]

Abbas: Iraq must start with two wins
(FIFA.com)

Iraq have achieved considerable success in recent years, lifting the AFC Asian Cup in 2007 and appearing at the FIFA Confederations Cup two years later. Most recently, the Lions of Mesopotamia managed to reach the fourth round of Asian Zone qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

Defender Bassim Abbas performed a pivotal role in their recent success, playing in every match en route to their continental triumph and appearing in all three of their games at South Africa 2009, against New Zealand, Spain and South Africa.

After playing for various clubs in Iraq, Iran, Qatar and Turkey, Abbas returned to the capital of his homeland to join Baghdad FC, while the solid defender is currently training with the Iraqi national team ahead of the fourth and final round of Asian Zone qualifying for Brazil 2014.

FIFA.com caught up with the 29-year-old to discuss his career, what it's like playing under Zico and Iraq's chances of reaching world football’s showpiece event.

FIFA.com: Bassim, what do you think of Iraq’s group for the fourth round of Asian Zone qualifying?
Bassim Abbas: It’s a very difficult group. All the teams that have reached this stage are of a very high standard. We’re going to have to be at our best. I can tell you that the players and technical staff are hoping with all their hearts to qualify.

The current generation is often described as a golden generation for Iraqi football. What do you make of your chances in this group, and do you think you will qualify for Brazil 2014?
Every team can qualify. It will be a long time before we find another generation of Iraqi players as strong as this one. Zico has also brought young players into the fold, and I think that the combination of youth and experience should make us a good side. I’m hoping that these young players will take up the baton from us [senior players], especially as the squad will be heavily revamped after these qualifiers.

What is Zico’s philosophy as Iraq coach? And how is it different from the approach of his German predecessor, Wolfgang Sidka?
Zico has brought a lot to the national team. Brazilian coaches understand Iraqi players, and experience showed that he was similar to us. We won the Asian Cup with another Brazilian coach, Jorvan Vieira, who understood us perfectly. Zico can read people very well and he adapted very quickly to the Iraqi players. We’ve discussed many things with him. Personally, I really liked what he said to us when he first took the job: 'I will try to spare you the things that I didn’t like when I was a player, and apply those that will be useful to you.' Those words show his professionalism. Zico is quite simply one of the best coaches the Iraqi national team has ever had.

You have already faced Australia, Oman and Jordan in the past. Which of these three are the toughest opponents?
All three are top sides. Japan is the only team I’ve never played against, but Zico has coached them and he’ll be able to give us the information we need. As for Oman, Jordan and Australia, we know them like the back of our hand.

Your first match is against Jordan. How important is it for you to begin with a positive result?
The first match will be a battle of the coaches, as Adnan Hamad and Zico know the two sides’ strengths and weaknesses very well. The players believe the first and second matches, against Jordan and Oman respectively, are fundamental to our hopes of qualifying, as they appear simpler than the following two games against Australia and Japan. We absolutely must take the six points that are up for grabs.

You have played in Lebanon, Iran, Turkey and Qatar, and now you are back in Iraq. What has been the best experience of your professional career?
I have very fond memories of playing in Turkey. It’s not easy to play in the Turkish league, which is among the best in Europe. I stayed there for two seasons, and they will remain two of the best seasons of my career. I wanted to try my luck in an even more challenging league, but I had to return to Iraq for family reasons.

On the subject of your family, has the situation improved? And is there a chance we could see you playing outside Iraq once again?
Yes, things are much better now and I hope to be playing in a professional league again very soon. I’m hoping to do well in the World Cup qualifiers and attract attention from European clubs. At the moment I’m completely focused on the qualifiers and I want to give everything for my country.

You have played for Iraq in nearly every competition, including the AFC Asian Cup, the Men's Olympic Football Tournament and the FIFA Confederations Cup. But you have never appeared at a FIFA World Cup. Just how motivated are you to put that right?
The players in the national side talk about it a lot. We’ve played together for a long time, at both youth and senior level. We won the Asian Youth Championship and played at the 2004 Olympic Games, where we finished fourth. At senior level, we won the West Asian Championship and Asian Cup in 2007, and played in the Confederations Cup. We realised all of those dreams, and all we’re missing is an appearance at a World Cup finals. The current golden generation is more determined than ever to qualify. In training, our determination and concentration are at maximum levels. God willing, and with the prayers of all Iraqis, we will reach our goal.

You have been part of the national team for 11 years. How important is it to have experienced players in the squad for the final round of qualifiers for Brazil 2014?
I think experience is necessary in the fourth round, because you have to be able to cope with big-game pressure. It’s not easy for the young players to be involved in such crucial matches, particularly against such solid opponents and with so much mental, media and public pressure. The presence of experienced players in the Iraqi national team will play an important role in our progress, and I hope we’ll be there in Brazil in two years’ time.

[Basrawii]

Iraq defeats Sierra Leone 1-0

The Iraqi national team on Wednesday defeated their Sierra Leonean opponent 1-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.
The only goal of the day came in the fifth minute of play courtesy of Nashit Akram’s 24 yards striker following an error from the Sierra Leonean defense.
However, the Sierra Leone side came close to grabbing an equalizer just a minute before halftime after striker, Alhaji Kamara failed to beat the Iraqi goalkeeper, Mohammed Kassid in a one on one situation which was Sierra Leone’s closest chance in the first half.
The largely home based squad who were missing majority of their key players started the second segment on a good-footing, gaining lot of possession with several chances created but only have the cross bar to bless when Kerrerg Muhhammed header in the 60 minutes hit the post and bounced away.
Goalkeeper, Christian Caulker was quick to make amends for his part in the Akram’s goals by making three possible saves to deny the Iraqi’s in extending their lead but in the 85th minute he was lucky to escape with only a yellow card after a hard challenge out of his box on incomer, Hammadi Ahmed.
Sierra best ever-chance to tie the game came just two minutes of normal time after debutant and Cyprus based midfielder, Issa Zuma Kamara could not get his shot direct to the goal following a tussle in the Iraqi box.
However, Coach John Keister was impressed with his boy’s performance despite the result. He said: “it was a difficult game but the result does not matter,what was important was the performance in such a stage of football.”

Comments are closed.

[Basrawii]

العراق يعلن تشكيلته لمباراة الأردن

أعلن الجهاز الفني للمنتخب العراقي تشكيلته النهائية استعدادا لمباراة الاردن في 3 يونيو المقبل بعمان في الجولة الاولى من منافسات المجموعة الثانية ضمن الدور الرابع الحاسم من التصفيات الاسيوية المؤدية الى مونديال البرازيل 2014.

ولم يجد الجهاز التدريبي للمنتخب العراقي بقيادة البرازيلي زيكو اي مشقة في اختيار تشكيلته الاخيرة (25 لاعبا) حيث يمثل عمودها الفقري جميع المحترفين بالاضافة الى لاعبين ارتدوا فانيلة منتخب بلادهم في مناسبات سابقة.

واللاعبون هم : محمد كاصد ونور صبري ومحمد حميد وسامال سعيد وفريد مجيد وابراهيم كامل ووليد بحر وسلام شاكر وعلي حسين رحيمة وباسم عباس زمهدي كريم وقصي منير وهوار ملا محمد ومثنى خالد ونشات اكرم وكرار جاسم وعلي صلاح وحمادي احمد وعلاء عبد الزهرة ويونس محمود وعماد محمد ومصطفى كريم وحسام كاظم ولؤي صلاح واحمد ابراهيم.

[Basrawii]

Socceroos warned of Cup qualifying danger

Asia-based defender Sasa Ognenovski has warned the Socceroos' task in qualifying for the FIFA World Cup through Asia is getting much tougher.

The Socceroos begin their final push towards Brazil 2014 when they start the final Asian qualifying stage in Oman on Friday week, before facing Japan in Brisbane four days later.

One of Australia's most experienced players in Asia - having captained his South Korean club Seongnam Ilhwa to an Asian Champions League title in 2010 and capturing the Asian player of the year award the same year - Ognenovski is a keen observer of the improving competition in the region.

"It's getting better - it's getting a lot better," said Ognenovski.

"You've got the likes of Japan, South Korea - on the other side in the Middle East, Iran, Iraq, Qatar - who are investing heavily.

"I think the level is slowly but surely getting up there to a really, really high-quality level.

"Japan, South Korea and ourselves have always been there or thereabouts. Other teams come up for a few years and then drop down. But now they're starting to develop a bit of consistency."

He said advancing against the Socceroos' Group B opponents Iraq, Japan, Jordan and Oman was no easy task.

"Obviously we're going to play some tough games," said Ognenovski.

"Hopefully I get to play first of all and, secondly, hopefully my experience can help the team qualify comfortably for the World Cup.

"I think it's just important for us to try and play well away, but play a bit smart and then when, we come home, to make sure we put the pedal down and make sure that we get the three points."

Since joining Seongnam in 2009, Ognenovski says he's seen the depth of Asian international football rising strongly.

Playing part-time and working as a builder as recently as six years ago, Ognenovski is making up for lost time in green and gold after debuting in 2010 at the ripe age of 31 and lists his Socceroos debut as his proudest career moment.

He has impressed alongside skipper Lucas Neill in the heart of Australia's defence when given the opportunity and aims to add a World Cup berth to his list of achievements.

"I always had that feeling, that I could play at a higher level," said Ognenovski.

"Obviously playing in the state league, you're not playing at a professional level. You're not really going to show as much improvement as you would playing at a professional level.

"Once I moved to the A-League, obviously just training instead of waking up in the morning and working, is a lot different and the improvement showed from there.

"I had a good couple of years in Brisbane, had a good year in Adelaide and then, from there, I've come across here (South Korea)."

[Basrawii]

تعادل المنتخب الوطني مع بوتسوانا قبل مواجهة الاردن

غداد ( إيبا )/متابعة/..تعادل المنتخب العراقي لكرة القدم مع نظيره بوتسوانا 1/1 في المبارة الودية الدولية التي جمعت بينهما في تركيا اليوم الاثنين.

وتأتي المباراة ضمن استعدادات أسود الرافدين لمشواره في التصفيات الأسيوية المؤهلة الى نهائيات كأس العالم 2014 بالبرازيل.

وتقدم كرار جاسم بهدف للمنتخب العراقي بعد مرور اربع دقائق من بداية المباراة فيما أدرك منتخب بوتسوانا التعادل في اللحظات الأخيرة من المباراة.

ويلتقي منتخب العراق مع نظيره الأردني في الثالث من حزيران المقبل في العاصمة عمان في التصفيات الاسيوية.

ولم تنقل المباراة تلفزيونيا حسب طلب المدير الفني للمنتخب العراقي زيكو حسبما اعلنت القناة العراقية الفضائية.(النهاية)

[Chounz]

Sorry Socceroos but no World Cup for you this time. Unfortunately you're going to be getting kicked out of the group by Iraq.

[Basrawii]

Lets keep our hopes down a bit, we beated Sierra Leone 1-0, jordan scored a four goals on them. Playing Jordan wouldn't be a picnic!

So lets keep the hopes down a bit...

[FromBaghdadWithLove]

if we don't beat jordan, I promise I will never ever ever comment on this forum again.

[Basrawii]

chounz! finally..... ur dream has just come true...

[sheytanElKebir]

i really hope we make it. but I am not very confident in our ability to be honest.

[makaay31]

We HAVE to win the first two games.. It's against Jordan and Oman dammit, they should fear Iraq not vice versa

[BigDreamer]

Originally Posted by FromBaghdadWithLove

if we don't beat jordan, I promise I will never ever ever comment on this forum again.

GOOOO JORDAAAAAAN !!!! JORDAN JORDAN !!!







































no srsly, i hope we win -_- ... fu#k.. would be lame if we screw it up now

[Basrawii]

If that means FBWL leaves this forum, many members here would consider complicated calculations resulting from losing to Jordan than winning....

FYI: I'm not one of them..

[Chounz]

Nah me and FLWB are buds now apparently.. or something :P


عراقي أحسن الناس.. يبقى تاج عالراس.. وحق الاسمه عباس نبجييييييههههم

Yalla shabab weinkum hay shinoo..

Game is in just over 9 hours! Getting pumped!

[haiderpass]

haha, 9 hours till 30 million iraqis suffer from heart attacks
yalla shabab lets get this thread going till match time, anyone wanna guess our line-up.