Iraq’s 188cm tall striker scores 12 goals in 9 games this year
Kim Min-jae leads without conceding a goal against Jordan
Hong Myung-Boho, who achieved a scoreless victory in the away game against the difficult Jordan, will now face Iraq, led by ‘high-altitude bomber’ Aymen Hussein (Al-Khor). Chang is aiming for a scoreless victory even against sharper opponents, and at the center of this goal is Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), a defender representing Asia.
Korea will play the 4th match of Group B of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup Asian region 3rd qualifying round match against Iraq at Mir Stadium in Yongin at 8 p.m. on the 15th.
It is considered the most worth-watching matchup in Group B between Korea and Iraq, who each have 2 wins and 1 draw. This is a golden opportunity for Hong Myung-Boho, who achieved a pleasant victory in Jordan and somewhat reduced the recent criticism in the soccer world, to change the atmosphere.
Korea ranks 23rd in the FIFA rankings, higher than Iraq (55th). They also lead their opponents with 9 wins, 12 draws, and 2 losses. Excluding the penalty shootout loss, the most recent loss was in the 1984 LA Olympics final qualifying round (0-1), a whopping 40 years ago. This is someone you can have confidence in.
However, recent Iraq cannot be taken lightly. Iraq boasts a solid defense, not giving up a single goal during the three games of the third preliminary round.
In addition, we must reliably prevent nuclear attack Hussein deployed on the front lines. Hussein, with his 188cm body size, is a striker who utilizes his strong strength and height to demonstrate his strengths in post play, and has scored 28 goals in 74 A matches.
Hussein scored 12 goals in 9 consecutive A matches, from the first match of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup group stage against Indonesia in January to the World Cup qualifier against Palestine on the 10th.
Iraq’s strength is that it has a reliable striker named Hussein. At the same time, it can become a weakness.
The power of Iraq’s attacks will be reduced without Hussein. In fact, last month, in the away game against Kuwait, which was played without Hussein due to injury, the team drew 0-0. Considering that Kuwait lost 0-4 to Oman on the 11th, we can see the role Hussein played in Iraq’s attack.
If Hussein is blocked by the Korean defense and cannot demonstrate his skills, Iraq’s offensive power will inevitably decrease. It is a kind of ‘double-edged sword’.
From Korea’s perspective, the strong defense of ‘pillar’ Kim Min-jae is needed. Kim Min-jae is currently a central defender representing Asia and has various strengths such as air superiority, space coverage, and attack development. In the match against Jordan, thanks to Kim Min-jae’s outstanding defense, Korea won without any risk of conceding any goals. It was a game that proved why he is the starting defender for Bayern Munich, a world-famous club.
The match between Korea and Iraq, which pursues a stable game, is expected to be a one-goal game. The chance of winning increases when the opponent’s clear attack options are blocked, and if Kim Min-jae shows off his performance, Korea’s chances of winning also increase.
(Seoul = News 1)
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