Iraq still has a chance to advance after France loss, says manager Arnold

Despite a 3-0 defeat to France, marked by a Kylian Mbappe masterclass, Iraq's manager Graham Arnold insists the team's World Cup aspirations remain alive. Mbappe scored twice in the Group I match, which was delayed by severe weather, marking the second consecutive game where Iraq has conceded multiple goals to a top-tier forward, following Erling Haaland's brace in their opener against Norway.

Arnold is now focusing on Iraq's crucial final group game against Senegal on Friday, where their hopes of reaching the knockout phase hang in the balance. He noted that with eight third-placed teams advancing, Iraq still has a viable path forward.

While praising his team's first-half performance, Arnold lamented the lengthy weather delay, which he felt disrupted their rhythm. He pointed to a costly goalkeeping error immediately after the restart that gifted France their second goal. Arnold explained his halftime approach was to show the team footage of the first half to highlight where France was causing problems, while also emphasizing the need for players to remain relaxed during the extended break.

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For me now, it's all about Senegal. With ... eight third-placed teams going through. You know, we've still got a chance.

The Iraq boss expressed admiration for Mbappe's devastating performance, calling him an "incredible player" whose speed is "unstoppable." Arnold mentioned that his defensive strategy, playing deeper than usual, was a direct response to Mbappe's threat, aiming to prevent him from exploiting space behind the defense.

With both Haaland and Mbappe having scored braces against Iraq in consecutive matches, Arnold anticipates a compelling competition for the tournament's top scorer award among elite forwards like Haaland, Messi, and Mbappe.

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He's an incredible player. His speed is unstoppable. And that's why we defended a little bit deeper than I always do because if you leave space in behind and Mbappe's that quick, then he'll destroy you.