Iraq remaining World Cup fixtures
With two matches still to be played Iraq sit at the top of Qualifying Group C with 14 points, two more than arch rivals Iran.
Tantalisingly, the two teams meet in the final round of qualifiers at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, Bahrain, on 15th June. However, before that, Iraq have a game against Hong Kong on Friday night, which is also being played in Bahrain, this time in Al-Muharraq.
This is a game they should win easily. Hong Kong comes into the match from their six games, having won only once, against the Group whipping boys Cambodia.
However, anybody expecting this to be a high scoring game is likely to be disappointed.
Coach Mixu Paatelainen, well-known to British fans for his playing career in both Scotland and England, has his Hong Kong team well-drilled, and their defence is organised and hard to beat.
At the same time, they do not create many chances, and they have only scored four goals all campaign.
When the two sides met in Basra in the return fixture, back in October 2019, it finished 2 - 0 to the hosts with Mohanad Ali giving them the lead in the 37th minute. However, it took Ali Adnan coming off the bench to score from the penalty spot to finally make the points safe so the East Asian team will be no push-overs. A similar score line this time would not be unexpected.
A win, though, would mean that Iraq could not be overtaken by Bahrain, who are currently tied on points with Iran, but have played a game more.
With all due respect to Hong Kong though, what all Iraq football fans are waiting for is the match against Iran next week. By then, qualification for the next round and the 2023 Asian Cup should have been secured, so it will all be about the game itself.
This will be a match that Iraq simply will not want to lose.
The first match between the two sides in Amman back in November almost two years ago, was a fiery affair, littered with yellow cards, whilst Iran finished with ten men. Iraq took an early lead through Mohanad Ali again, but Iran were soon on level terms, and despite Iran playing the last nine minutes a man down, the game looked like it was heading for a draw until, deep into injury time, substitute Ali Abbas made himself a national hero, by rising highest to head home an out-swinging corner.
Suddenly, the Iraq football jersey became a must-have item for every football fan in Baghdad, Basra, and all places in-between.
Iran come into this game in fine form, having won their last five matches, conceding just two goals in that sequence. They beat Bahrain earlier this week to leapfrog them in the standings and will still entertain hopes that they can overtake Iraq for top spot, ensuring themselves a more favourably draw in the third round of World Cup qualifying.
