After a dominant qualifying campaign, Norway take to World Cup stage for first time in 21st century against playoff qualifiers Iraq at Gillette Stadium. The ease with which dem book dia place for North America this summer mean say Norway be popular dark-horse pick among pundits.
Iraq na di final team to qualify for World Cup. Di Middle Eastern nation no don take soccer grandest stage since 1986, but dia manager, Graham Arnold, lead Australia to Round of 16 finish for Qatar three-and-a-half years ago. However, di experienced manager go need to pull off minor miracle if Iraq go enjoy extended stay for dis summer tournament.
Dem don place Iraq for di ‘Group of Death’ alongside France and Senegal, with meeting against Les Bleus next on di horizon. Both teams must dey chomping at bit given dia lengthy absences, and Iraq risk succumbing to di irresistible Scandis at di home of New England Patriots.
While Norway need eight games and eight wins to make dia first World Cup since 1998, Iraq endure 21 matches for dia qualifying bid. Graham Arnold side overcome Bolivia for di inter-confederation playoffs to confirm dia spot. Iraq lose all three matches back for 1986—dia only World Cup appearance—and Arnold go view improvement on dat as massive success.
Survival may well be dia primary focus for North America, while dia first opponent, Norway, facing AFC representative for first time at World Cup, dey determined to prove say dem be real deal ahead of far tougher tests.
Graham Arnold start out with 4-3-3 after dem appoint am with Iraqi soccer on dia knees one year ago, and since then don evolve im team into stubborn unit wey play with two strikers. A pair of dynamic young forwards dey expected to start up top for Tuesday—Ali Al-Hamadi and Al Jasim. Di former get five goals for 19 international caps and don spend di entirety of im career for English Football League. Jasim, meanwhile, dey on Como books. Aymen Hussein strike against Bolivia for March thrust Iraq to dia first World Cup for 40 years, and he be another option for Arnold dis summer. Marko Farji be another name to keep eye on.
Iraq predicted lineup vs. Norway (4-4-2): Hassan; Ali, Tahseen, Hashim, Doski; Bayesh, Ismael, Al-Ammari, Farji; Al-Hamadi, Jasim.
Norway get pretty settled starting lineup. Solbakken like to adopt asymmetric 4-3-3 wey allow Alexander Sørloth to partner Erling Haaland for attack, with width down di right provided by fullback Julian Ryerson. Ryerson don get mightily productive season with Borussia Dortmund, recording 15 Bundesliga assists. Im crosses be useful weapon for dis Norway team, especially with two man mountains up top. RB Leipzig Antonio Nusa supply one-on-one magic down di left, and di midfield dey made up of tidy balance of profiles. Martin Ødegaard go captain im country for North America dis summer, while Fulham Sander Berge go operate at di base of di engine room.
Norway predicted lineup vs. Iraq (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe; Ødegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sørloth, Haaland, Nusa.
