FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was delayed en route to his first game. world cup.
He gave his best performance in his tournament debut.
It was unclear whether Hussein would be able to compete in the tournament after he and another member of his team’s expedition were detained for several hours while passing through U.S. customs in Chicago earlier this month.
Two weeks later, Hussein scored Second World Cup goal in country’s history during the Iraq War Lost to Norway 4-1 on tuesday.
Hussein also scored a late own goal, but Iraq manager Graham Arnold saw only positives from his star player’s effort.
“I’d rather remember his performance and the way he played,” Arnold said. “He’s had quite a few injuries during the season. For him to play 90 minutes… he’s the type of player who is very difficult to control in the box. I’m very proud of him.”
Norway took a 1-0 lead with Erling Haaland’s sliding goal in the 29th minute.
Nine minutes later, Hussein inspired a crowd of Iraqi fans clad in white in a sea of Norwegian red at Gillette Stadium.
Amir Alanmari stole the ball on the baseline between the left corner and the goal and fired a cross. This evaded the Norwegian defenders and Hussein took a clean header, but this deflected under the hands of diving goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
Iraq will be participating in its second World Cup in 40 years.
Hussein looked deflated as he shook hands with the Norwegian players afterwards, but his teammates were proud of his goal, even if momentarily, for a team that was trailing.
Defender Hussein Ali said: “It’s a proud moment for him.” “But of course, in the end, it’s hard to be happy with a goal like that. But we move on to the next game.”
Aside from Mr Hussain’s difficulties at customs, Mr Arnold, who coached Australia at the 2022 World Cup, said the team’s experience leading up to Tuesday’s game had been a positive one.
“FIFA, even in the United States, it’s not about politics. It’s about soccer,” he said. “Our treatment was first class.”
Arnold said the team’s effort on Tuesday bodes well for Monday’s game against France in Philadelphia.
“I was very proud of the first 65-70 minutes,” Arnold said. “Some mistakes by players at this type of level are always going to be punished. So we have to learn lessons from these mistakes.”
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
