World Cup’s last qualifier Iraq plot ‘shock’ while Japan confident of making more history
Iraqis to make first finals appearance in 40 years, while Japanese have set ultimate goal after becoming first Asian team to beat England
Coach Graham Arnold has challenged his players to “shock the world” after Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday with a nerve-shredding 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental play-off in Mexico.
Meanwhile, Japan, who were the first nation to qualify for the finals in North America, made their own slice of history with a statement 1-0 win over England that showed they could go deep 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 will 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.
“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 because of the disruption caused by the conflict.