Coach Graham Arnold on Tuesday challenged his players to “shock the world” after Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup with a nerve-shredding 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico, as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Sweden and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) also secured their places at the finals.
Iraq, whose preparations were disrupted by the war in the Middle East, sealed their first appearance at the finals in 40 years and are to play in Group I against France, Senegal and Norway.
Goals from Ali al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein secured a famous win for Iraq, whose last appearance at the World Cup came at Mexico in 1986.
Photo: AFP
“With everything going on in the Middle East at the moment it made it harder for the players,” said the Australian Arnold, who had initially sought to have the fixture postponed due to the disruption caused by the conflict.
“Delighted for the players, very good boys, very happy for the 46 million Iraqis,” he added. “Hopefully it will help change the perception of Iraq and the football in Iraq. Doing something in the World Cup nobody expects us to do. Let’s shock the world.”
Because of travel disruption caused by the US-Israel war on Iran, most of the Iraqi squad only reached Mexico after a grueling three-day journey from Baghdad that began with an overland crossing into Jordan.
There was little sign of weariness during a confident start by Iraq, who took the lead after nine minutes through Luton Town striker al-Hamadi — the 24-year-old who moved to Liverpool as a toddler following the outbreak of the 2003 Iraq war.
Iraq were well worth the early goal and looked in control until Bolivia, who had gradually grown into the game, equalized after 38 minutes.
Ramiro Vaca’s shot from the edge of the area was controlled with one touch by Moises Paniagua and the Morocco-based central midfielder swept into the roof of the net.
The goal stunned Iraq and Bolivia looked likely to grab a second after dominating the remainder of the half.
Iraq regained the lead eight minutes after the break, when a long ball forward was nodded into the path of substitute Marko Lawk-Farji.
His cross found captain Hussein and the veteran striker clipped a first-time finish into the bottom corner.
Bolivia pressed frantically for a goal to force extra-time, but Iraq’s well-marshalled defense held firm during nine minutes of stoppage-time.
Bolivia head coach Oscar Villegas was visibly distraught.
“Devastated, totally devastated because we believed we could be at the World Cup,” he said.
Meanwhile, Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup as a playoff defeat on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina meant gli Azzurri would not go to this year’s tournament in North America.
Bosnia won 4-1 in the shoot-out in Zenica after their playoff final finished 1-1 at the end of extra-time, with Sandro Tonali the only Italy player to score from the spot as Francesco Pio Esposito blazed their first penalty over and Bryan Cristante smashed his kick against the crossbar.
“I don’t think the boys deserved to suffer such a blow,” Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso said. “It’s difficult to digest.”
Ranked 66th in the world, Bosnia finished second in qualifying Group H behind Austria before beating Wales on penalties in their playoff semi-final.
Their only previous World Cup appearance came in 2014. Now they go into Group B at this year’s tournament along with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
Turkey qualified as Kerem Akturkoglu’s 53rd-minute goal secured a 1-0 win in Kosovo, shattering their hosts’ dream of appearing at the tournament for the first time.
Vincenzo Montella’s team go into Group D along with cohosts the US, Paraguay and Australia.
“We achieved our dreams. The World Cup is the pinnacle in this profession,” Montella told UEFA.com.
Sweden recovered from a desperate performance in the group stage of qualifying to secure their place at the finals in dramatic fashion, edging Poland 3-2 in Stockholm, with Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres scoring an 88th-minute winner.
Coached by Englishman Graham Potter, they go into Group F at the World Cup along with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
The Czech Republic matched Bosnia’s achievement by qualifying thanks to back-to-back shoot-out victories, as they followed their success against Ireland last week by defeating Denmark 3-1 on penalties in Prague.
They go into Group A with South Africa, South Korea and Mexico.
In Kinshasa, delirious fans took to the soaked streets of the capital, dancing into the night in the rain after the DRC reached the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.
Defender Axel Tuanzebe, who plays in the Premier League for Burnley, was the hero with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Jamaica after extra-time in their intercontinental playoff in Mexico.
The central African nation face Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K this summer.
“We won’t be working on Wednesday. It’s going to be a national holiday. We’re going to celebrate and party all night long,” said Beni Ile, a fan in Kinshasa whose shoulders were draped in a soaked DRC flag. “We’ve been waiting 50 years for this. We’re staying out until dawn.”
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