Iraq will contest their second match in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
A familiar fixture for the Lions as they are set to battle it out against their Middle Eastern neighbours. Iraq travelled to Kuala Lumpur on Friday preparing to embark on the next match of qualifiers that stands between them and Russia.
Radhi’s men got off to a disappointing start with a 2-0 loss against Australia in Perth on Thursday. The frustration was based solely on the team’s performance, with a lot of criticism thrown at the manager’s tactical decision and team selection. The Lions will be eager to put that game behind them and fight for their first three points come Tuesday night at the Shah Alam stadium.
Al-Suqour kicked off with a not so convincing win against Thailand at King Fahad Stadium in Riyadh. A soft penalty decision was awarded to the hosts in the 80th minute to seal Bert van Marwijk’s men a 1-0 win.
Tuesday’s fixture has sparked much debate due to the decision of Iraq to host matches in Iran, a controversial one to many Saudis. Therefore, following FIFA involvement, both nations have agreed for the game to be played in Malaysia.
It’s been renowned to many as a physical encounter when the teams have met of late and as it is somewhat of a derby, with bragging rights and three crucial points on the line, then this one will be no different.
KICK-OFF: Tuesday, 06/09, 2:00pm (BGD)
VENUE: Shah Alam Stadium
RECORD: P-37 W-15 D-10 L-11
LIVE: BeIn Sport 2
For full match updates LIVE on Tuesday then follow @SoccerIraq on Twitter. #YallaIraq
