Graham Arnold calls for 'Iraqi mentality of fighting'

[p]Iraq secured the ‌last berth in the expanded 48-team ‌tournament with a win over Bolivia in the intercontinental playoff final in Mexico ‌in April. The finals will be ⁠held in ‌North America.[/p][p]Drawn in Group I alongside Norway, ​France and Senegal, Arnold described the pool as “[b]the toughest group ​in the World Cup[/b]”.[/p][p]“[b]We work together as a family and we go to ⁠the World ​Cup believing we can make Iraq proud,[/b]” Arnold told reporters.[/p][p]Iraq open their campaign against Norway on June 16 before ‌facing 2022 runners-up France on June 22 and Senegal four days later.[/p][embed guid="c3eaa160-8f37-47ef-9d5f-37e1a26f96d7" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjEzRv7w75Y" social-type="youtube" /][p]“[b]Norway is our first focus and we are getting ready for that game. Then we face the best team in the world, France — it will be a great experience,[/b]” Arnold said.[/p][p]“[b]What ‌I expect from the Iraqi boys ​is that Iraqi mentality of fighting — ‌we fight for every minute.[/b]”[/p][p]Ranked 57th in the world, the 2007 Asian champions will continue their preparations with friendlies against Andorra in Girona ⁠on May ⁠29 and Spain ‌on June 4.[/p]