Iraq should be proud of World Cup display despite early exit, says coach Arnold

Iraq coach Graham Arnold believes the national team should feel proud of its World Cup performance, even after being eliminated from the tournament following a 5-0 defeat to Senegal. Arnold emphasized that the team competed well against opponents they typically only see on television.

"Everyone in Iraq should be proud of the fact that we made it here and we performed very well in two out of the three games," Arnold stated. He acknowledged that the team faced strong competition from players representing France, Norway, and Senegal, highlighting the experience gained from playing at this level.

Arnold pointed to specific factors that hindered Iraq's progress, including a red card issued in the 13th minute of the match against Senegal, which he felt significantly impacted the game's outcome. He also noted that many of the 12 goals conceded by the team throughout the tournament resulted from individual errors.

Looking beyond the tournament, Arnold commented on the development of football in the Middle East. He suggested that leagues in the region still have considerable work to do to improve player development and enhance the overall standard of the game.

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Everyone in Iraq should be proud of the fact that we made it here and we performed very well in two out of the three games.