2014 FIFA WC QLF, AFC: Group B

Indeed. You need to be super unlucky to keep languishing @ the bottom of the group just as anyone with half a brain had predicted.

Korea is going to the playoffs when they lose @ Ulsan. I'm sure qatar is going to accommodate uzis and boost their GD.

 

The Defence really screwed up on that goal. Alaa shouldn't have been sent off.
Both teams were lacking probably due to the 31C temp and humidity ref gave the players 2 or 3 breaks during the game to drink water. It was clear Vladmir Petrovic needed to make subs at 65 - 70. He made 2 changes at 79 and 85 which was too late first one bringing a defender on and taking a striker off.

Iraq should of tried to keep Zico or at least replace him with someone who isn't a merc. Vladmir Petrovic has been in charge for 5 games Won 1 and lost 4. his only notable jobs are China 07-08 and Serbia 10-11 and was sacked from both. I hope heads roll at IFA especially whoevers idea was to hire Vlad.

We got screwed by FIFA not letting us play at home, instead our "home" games were played in the **** hole qatar. There was more Japanese fans in the stadium than Iraqis.

Younis Mahmoud announced his retirement at the end of the game. Was surprised as he is only 30.

 

Yeh sure, that's going to happen

 

Some bad news from South America I guess you could say, Uruguay win in Caracas to move ahead of Venezuela for the 5th spot in CONMEBOL.. still 4 rounds to play but it's looking more and more likely that whoever wins AFC's playoff is going to have to face a very hungry Suarez, Cavani and co. for the intercontinental playoff spot.. that's going to be very tough for defenses like Oman and Jordan...

 

His DOB is 1978, so he is probably 34 or 35..

This was our best opportunity to qualify, and we still managed to mess it up. We dropped so many points in the beginning, and we deserved to end it like this.

We have to rebuild now. Bring on good people in the federation who actually want to improve our football, bring on a local coach who cares about the team, and kick out our expired players. They had to retire in 2008.

 

Iraq was second at one point

What do you mean?

Link? Wiki says 1983.

 

Do you really believe that a 15 year old boy can be the league topscorer?(1998-1999)
And besides that, you can clearly see that he is past his 30's.
And do you know why we were second at a point? Because we had 2 points from Jordan and Oman, and we had a more goals scored than Australia and Oman (2 goals scored).

Iraq is not the team like before. Zico did a very good job in the third round, but the fourth round was a big failure from the beginning on. We screwed up big time.

Petrovic will be sacked. That is a step in the right direction, because he is a very poor coach. Thayer Jassam will most likely be appointed as head coach. And now we have to go further, and go for the Asian Cup

 

Everywhere has his year of birth as '83. And wiki doesn't have him as the 98-99 league top scorer. Point was we weren't always bottom like that guy was saying.

 

We were third in the group in November until March, when we got the 3 points against Jordan. But does it matter? No, it was just temporary. At the end of the day, we're out of the competition

 

I still remember the Golden days of Iraq back when Ahmad Radhi was at the helm. I believe Iraq just needs time to recoup and further nurture its young players- hopefully they'll be ready for Russia 2018.
Good luck.

 

Thank you.

Somehow I'm glad that we didn't make it, because what is point of qualifying if you are struggling against the likes of Oman and Jordan? This saved us from an embarassment.

The only team that will get decent results in the World Cup is Japan. And Australia has the experience to at least represent Asia better than Oman or Jordan. That is why I want them to qualify.

 

I think we failed because of poor preparations, inconsistency, lack of home advantage, and not because of lack of talent (the U-20 players are very good, and will be our foundation for the future)
This current team had no chemistry at all, and the young players had no experience. Add some mistakes from the defence and the goalkeeper + poor coach and there you have it. Bottom of the group..

I pray that we will finally get a local coach, that FIFA will lift the ban for international competitions, that our European based players will get called up, and that our federation will change.

Good luck for Japan in the Confederations Cup, and the other teams in the upcoming qualifications!

 

That's one way to put it.

He'll be chomping at the bit, waiting to sink his teeth into the playoffs against Asia's 5th team. It'll be the last bite of the cherry.

 

I think it's hard to believe that Iraq are bottom of the group - IMO Jordan are easily the weakest team in the group based on their goal difference, which usually paints a better picture for a team's quality.

I know, I know, they have more points than Iraq, but there is no way the Iraqis would give in and lose 4-0 or 6-0 like Jordan did. After Australia scored the second goal in Melbourne, Jordan just totally gave up and shamefully dropped their heads. And they call them The Braves. Only at home it seems.

I think Jordan simply surprised Australia and Japan on their home turf, while Iraq didn't have a true home match. Expecting a very difficult match on Tuesday against a team that has nothing to lose and now have the freedom to express themselves.

 

I am sorry. Korea won't lose. Good luck against Uruguay.

 

I agree with you. We had a huge disadvantage because we couldn't play at home thanks to FIFA.
For me personally that's the biggest disappointment. That we couldn't even make it to the play-offs in such an 'easy' group. We are better than Jordan and Oman and at least equal to Australia in my opinion.

Good luck for Australia. I hope that you'll make it

 

Nice brave game from this very youthful Iraqi side, only 3 players older than 22. Didn't come to just kick the ball forward, they made some nice passes, just the last one as usually lacked.

Australia must improve for, I don't know, 300 % if they are to make anything at te WC.

 

Iraq overperformed today. My God, they were amazing. Too bad they are going to change managers again, but they put the Roos on their heels.

 

Well done to Iraq for making a good game of it. We deserved to win on balance of play (just) but FMD we have a lot of work to do not to be embarrassed in Brazil

 

Painful and borderline unacceptable, but we got over the line.

 

I was preying for a draw. I just feel that we have gone all the way back to 2010 again and we have the same old same old. Credit to Australia though, they've had a rough ride but done it.

Jordan - Oman now. Like to see a winner takes all and not Oman play for a draw. But why would they? There game plan before Aus/Iraq would have been to win so why play to draw now.

I think Oman has a better chance of getting through playoffs than Jordan, Jordan do tend to crumble when they play a big team is my thinking on this.

 

I don't think that FIFA has any choice sadly. As this game was underway bombs in Baghdad killed 31 and injured many more.

However the Iraqi nation has a team to be proud of and based on tonight's efforts and likely a good showing in the Youth Cup they will build to be a real threat to the other countries in the AFC in 2018 and beyond.

 

Congrats Iran and South Korea for qualification. Hopefully, Uzbekistan makes it to the World Cup too.