Source : the age
As he boarded one of the team’s first government-chartered flights after taking over as coach of Iraq, Graham Arnold was stopped by a gift-bearing pilot who gave him an ornate silver ring with a huge amber gemstone.
“He said, ‘This will bring you luck, and take us to the World Cup,’” Arnold recounts. “And I said, OK. I put it on straight away.”
Arnold calls it his “Iraqi ring”, but it’s actually known as an aqeeq ring – and in the Islamic world, it is steeped in meaning. The prophet Muhammad is said to have worn one on his right hand. Many people wear them for spiritual protection and good fortune. To present one to a foreigner is to offer them a cultural invitation, and to wear it proudly a symbol of gratitude and commitment.
Kick-off in Foxborough is 20 minutes away.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken has selected his first-choice attack line – including the English Premier League’s top scorer, Erling Haaland – for the country’s first World Cup match since 1998 against Graham Arnold’s Iraq in Group I.
Arnold, the Qatar 2022 Socceroos coach who has now led Iraq to their first appearance in 40 years, has made several changes from the XI that lost 2-0 against Venezuela in their last warm-up match.
- Solbakken chose Alexander Sorloth and Antonio Nusa will play alongside Haaland up front
- Fredrik Aursnes gets the nod in midfield with winger Oscar Bobb on the bench
- Iraq’s attack will be led by veteran 30-year-old Aymen Hussein alongside Ali Al Hamadi and Ali Jassim
Iraq: Jalal Hassan; Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashem, Merchas Doski; Amir Al Ammari, Zaid Ismail, Ibrahim Bayesh; Ali Jassim, Ali Al Hamadi, Aymen Hussein
Norway: Orjan Haskjold Nyland; Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem, David Moller Wolfe; Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, Fredrik Aursnes; Alexander Sorloth, Erling Haaland, Antonio Nusa
And then it’s all over. THAT was a crazy last few minutes. Even after Senegal’s goal, though, they had no time to even contemplate a comeback let alone execute one. Mbappe made it happen to secure his brace, and I believe it is safe to declare that he more than made up for his poor first half. I do also believe it is safe to say that France more than made up for their poor first half. I’d been looking forward to this game and I can’t even tell you how deflated I felt after being forced to witness those insipid opening 45 minutes.
Mbappe has made himself France’s all-time leading scorer. He equalled Olivier Giroud’s record 57 goals with his equaliser, and his winner rendered him outright record-holder with 58.
And it’s a goal you’d like to replay. Mbappe is about 25 metres out with his back to goal. He turns on the spot and dispatches a finish that gains air as it goes. Mendy doesn’t have the height to stop it.
France 3-1 Senegal, 90+6 minutes
Some action! And not from the side you’d expect, given France have improved this half and are deep in winding-down-the-clock mode, slowing down every second of these eight added minutes. Rabiot (of course) is dispossesed and Ndiaye seizes the moment, dashing through the middle before picking out Mbaye slightly to the right. It’s man on but he tricks Hernandez out of even staying upright and explodes into the space he needs to to beat Maignan at his near post.
Oh, wait …
France 3-1 Senegal, 90+5 minutes
Well that substitution worked out quite nicely. The PSG wantaway scores 190 seconds after his introduction. He races onto a very nice crossfield through ball and, casual as you like, chips over Mendy. That’d be the game at this stage, you’d think.
France 2-0 Senegal, 82 minutes
