Iraq prepares to meet Jordan in AFC Asian Cup
The Spanish coach, Jesus Casas, during a press conference. Photo: Getty Images
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – After Iraq advanced to the Asian Cup knockout round by winning all of their group matches, Spanish coach Jesus Casas mentioned on Sunday that his team was not the favorites to win the tournament.
Along with Iran and Qatar, the defending champions, Iraq was one of three teams to finish the group stage with a perfect score. Casas’s squad pulled off the greatest surprise of the competition at this point by defeating Japan, the top-ranked team in Asia, according to Reuters.
The match between Iraq and Jordan in the round of 16 on Monday will test the Iraqi team’s will, according to Spanish coach Casas, who also noted that there was still a long way to go in the competition.
Casas said in a press conference that Iraq has a really tough game against a very strong squad, explaining that everything may happen in a single game—a red card, a penalty, a mistake, or nervousness. “Thus, we can’t say that we’re favorites,” he added.
The Spanish coach elaborated that he is very happy with the tournament so far, and the players’ performances have made the Iraqi people very proud.
The Iraqi national team is attempting to capture a second continental victory in its history at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, which is held in Qatar between January 12 and February 10.
The Iraqi team took home the championship in 2007 after defeating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final match.