20 Korea Republic 669 20 0 42 22 22 Japan 650 22 0 34 12 33 Iran 628 34 1 29 -4 38 Saudi Arabia 608 38 0 31 -7 53 Iraq 549 50 -3 72 19 62 Qatar 519 65 3 80 18 63 China PR 512 67 4 54 -9 66 Thailand 506 70 4 61 -5 77 Jordan 481 85 8 98 21 83 Kuwait 470 79 -4 74 -9 89 United Arab Emirates 458 79 -10 60 -29 91 Syria 449 94 3 89 -2 95 Oman 426 93 -2 91 -4 98 Uzbekistan 421 92 -6 62 -36 105 Bahrain 410 104 -1 110 5 108 Vietnam SR 392 120 12 105 -3 110 Indonesia 389 108 -2 87 -23 118 Singapore 373 119 1 115 -3 119 Lebanon 371 111 -8 93 -26 124 Korea DPR Interestingly, top 5 teams in Asia at the moment are: 20 Korea Republic 669 20 0 42 22 22 Japan 650 22 0 34 12 33 Iran 628 34 1 29 -4 38 Saudi Arabia 608 38 0 31 -7 53 Iraq 549 50 -3 72 19
Iraq just keeps getting better and better. I personally think they are the best team after the normal powerhouses. I would put money on them to qualify or get that .5 spot for the upcomming world cup...
Just think if Iraq weren't put under severe economic and diplomatic sanctions. They'd be up there w/ Saudi and Iran.
This generation of young Iraqi players that has grown under the economic embargo is a bright spot to the lackluster Iraqi football of the ninties! There is a lot of excitment and expectation from the German coach Stagne to bring hope back into the hearts of Iraqi people who have turned away from the most important thing in their life in the past, due to a continuing economic hardship! Players like Emad Muhamad, Asia's U-20 and Al-Itihad of Qatar top goal scorer, Nashaat Akram Iraq's talented Olympic team captain who is only 18 and basim Abbas, a young solid safety in deffence , are all examples of what will shape future of Iraqi football.
Good luck to Iraqi football team. I know they are going through harsh times and it is sad that football may not be able to reach out to EVERYONE who inhabit this earth.
Imagine a delicious USA vs. Iraq matchup for the last spot for the World Cup? Of course, we know it's probably going to be played in France or something.
The German coach Stagne contract has a clause that states; in the case of war, his contract will be terminated! As for the players and the rest of the Iraqi people ...they will all be in God's hands!
It would be inspirational if someone or some organization organize a youth camp inside Iraq helping Iraqi children lead a normal healthy life, if that is possible. Damn..... this World is full of inequalities. Someday it may end and we'll be judged.