PHILADELPHIA, June 22 : Iraq may have been on the wrong end of another superstar striker masterclass, but manager Graham Arnold insists his team’s tournament dreams remain intact despite Monday’s 3-0 defeat by France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kylian Mbappe scored twice in a Group I clash that was delayed more than two hours by severe weather, marking the second consecutive game where Iraq have conceded two goals to one of football’s elite forwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In their opener, Norway’s Erling Haaland found the net twice in a 4-1 victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the Australian coach is keeping his eyes firmly fixed on Friday’s crucial final group match against Senegal, where Iraq’s hopes of reaching the knockout phase hang in the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“For me now, it’s all about Senegal,” Arnold said. “With … eight third-placed teams going through. You know, we’ve still got a chance.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arnold praised his team’s first-half performance despite Mbappe’s opener from distance, but lamented how the lengthy weather delay seemed to disrupt their rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A costly goal-kick error immediately after the restart gifted France their second goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Well, you know, there’s nothing I could do except I showed probably a little bit longer footage of the first half at halftime to show them where France was obviously hurting us a little bit,” Arnold explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“But it was more the players just had to sit and relax and keep relaxed and then get themselves obviously ready when we went back out there.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Iraq boss had nothing but admiration for Mbappe’s devastating display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“He’s an incredible player,” Arnold said. “His speed is unstoppable. And that’s why we defended a little bit deeper than I always do because if you leave space in behind and Mbappe’s that quick, then he’ll destroy you.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With Haaland and Mbappe both on the scoresheet in consecutive games against Iraq, Arnold sees an intriguing battle brewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Haaland is scoring goals, and Messi’s obviously scoring goals, and Mbappe. So it’s going to be a very good competition between those three for the leading goal scorer.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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