Baghdad – IA
National football team coach Jesus Casas confirmed today, Wednesday, that the match with the Philippines is the gateway to qualifying for the next stage.
The Iraqi Football Association stated in a statement received by the (INA): “Today, Wednesday, the press conference was held by the national team coach, Jesus Casas, regarding the match between our national team and the Philippines, which was held in the conference hall of the Minawi Pasha Hotel in Basra, and Casas spoke at the beginning. The conference discussed the Al-Rafidain Lions’ latest preparations before tomorrow’s confrontation, pointing out the importance of the match, and that it will be an opportunity and an important step towards qualifying for the next stage of the World Cup qualifiers.
Casas said – according to the statement – “The opponent is vague to us and their coach is new, in addition to calling up a large number of new professional players, so we do not know much about them, and here lies the difficulty of the match,” adding, “I am keen to work hard in order to have a national team.” The Iraqi public will be proud of him.”
Regarding the absence of striker Ayman Hussein from the match and Ali Al Hammadi, and the extent to which the offensive line was affected by this, Casas said, “I do not think we have a problem on the offensive side. We have a sufficient number of players with the presence of Ahmed Yassin, who plays as a striker with a team, as well as the ability of Ali Jassim, in addition to The presence of Muhannad Ali, and most important of all is for the team to be consistent.”
Casas confirmed the absence of Slovakia’s Czech professional Mirjas Doski due to a minor injury, but most important of all is for the players to confirm their desire to be present and express their responsibilities with the national team, and perhaps he may be ready and we will need him in the return match.
Casas explained regarding the national team’s defensive system that “it does not concern the defenders alone, but rather the entire team is responsible, and the blame is not only on the defenders, but that defense starts from the front lines, and sometimes failure to adhere to duties affects the entire system, and the team that has an offensive style With his desire to score, there are often mistakes committed in the defensive third.”
Casas pointed out, “The doors of the national team always remain open to the presence of any player, and we follow the Iraqi league, and our work team makes exceptional efforts in analysis, and our goal is for the task of selecting the final list to be difficult and not easy, given the presence of many options in selecting.” the list”.