Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Rio de Janeiro: All you need about Iraq as they prepare for their Olympics opener against Denmark on August 4.
Road to Rio
Iraq wrote one of the greatest chapters in the story of Asian Olympic football when they humbled Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in 2004, and they will take on another international superstar when they meet Brazil’s Neymar on August 7.
Iraq, a nation that continues to unearth outstanding talent, used the AFC U23 Championship to underline the quality of its current crop, which features a number of players who reached the semi-finals of the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Drawn in a tough Group C, Iraq beat Yemen and Uzbekistan and drew with Korea Republic, before eliminating the United Arab Emirates 3-1 after extra time in a pulsating quarter-final. After a heartbreaking last-minute semi-final loss to Japan, Iraq showed their resilience in the winner-take-all third place match against host nation Qatar.
Trailing 1-0 and just four minutes away from elimination, Mohannad Abdul-Raheem popped up to score an equaliser, before Ayman Hussein’s 109th minute header wrapped up qualification, giving the Lions of Mesopotamia another shot at Olympic glory.
Asia’s Olympics hopefuls announce Rio 2016 squads
Facts and Figures
Current head coach: Abdulghani Shahad
Previous appearances: 4 (2004, 1988, 1984, 1980)
Best finish: Fourth (2004)
Matches played: 16
All-time record: (W-D-L): 5 - 4 - 7
Goals scored: 21
Goals conceded: 23
Best result: 3-0 (v Guatemala in 1988, v Costa Rica in 1980)
https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/qat_irq_8x4_jpg.html
