Category: Hassanane Balal

Basim Qasim, Corruption, Hassanane Balal, Iraq, Match Review, Russia2018WCQ, World Cup Qualifiers

Russia 2018 WCQ Match Reviews – Iraq 2-1 Thailand & Iraq 1-0 UAE

Following a catastrophic campaign in which Iraq were unable to mount any serious challange for qualification, it was left for Basim Qasim to pick up the pieces and start planning from square one. The new manager was quick to make his mark on the new squad by bringing in fresh talent and benching senior players such as Mohanned Abdul-Raheem. In came Aymen Hussain, Hussain Ali … Continue reading Russia 2018 WCQ Match Reviews – Iraq 2-1 Thailand & Iraq 1-0 UAE

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Club Football, english, Expat, Hassanane Balal, Iraq, News, transfers, yaser kasim

Yaser Kasim Signs With League One Side Northampton Town

Having endured a turbulent time at Swindon Town over the last two seasons, Yaser Kasim has finally left The Robins in search of a new club to reignite his career. The Iraqi international has found his career plateauing following a difficult time with the national team and ongoing fitness issues. Voted as the best Iraqi expat footballer in 2015, Yaser Kasim was considered a certainty … Continue reading Yaser Kasim Signs With League One Side Northampton Town

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Basim Qasim, Hassanane Balal, Iraq, Iraq FA, Match Review, Russia2018WCQ, World Cup Qualifiers

Russia 2018 WCQ Match Review – Iraq 1-1 Japan

Basim Qasim’s first competitive fixture as Iraqi manager ended with mixed responses as his side battled it out with a strong Japanese side. With no chance of qualification and Radhi Shenaishil no longer in charge of the national team, this was an opportunity for Basim Qasim to possibly try out new tactics or take risks he would usually be reluctant to try. A return to … Continue reading Russia 2018 WCQ Match Review – Iraq 1-1 Japan

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Ammo Baba, Corruption, Features, Hassanane Balal, Iraq, Iraq FA, Iraq Olympics Football

Torture, Threats and Imprisonment – How Uday Saddam Hussein Destroyed Iraqi Football

Unlike the current state of Iraq’s national team, the 60’s signaled the start of an extraordinary era for Iraqi football. By far the greatest team in the Arab world, Iraq was among the best teams in all of the Continent. The national team contained an array of talented footballers who went on to achieve fantastic successes over the next few decades, winning the Arab Cup … Continue reading Torture, Threats and Imprisonment – How Uday Saddam Hussein Destroyed Iraqi Football

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friendly, Hassanane Balal, Iraq, Iraq FA, Match Review, News

Match Review – Iraq 1-0 Jordan – Basra Hosts Home Fixture as Football Returns To Mesopotamia

Following a recent u-turn from FIFA to partially remove the ban on Iraq from hosting international home matches, the Iraqi FA were quick to celebrate this opportunity by arranging an official friendly tie with neighboring rivals Jordan. Football was well and truly coming home as the Lions of Mesopotamia took to the field on home soil for the first time since 2013. The Basra Sport … Continue reading Match Review – Iraq 1-0 Jordan – Basra Hosts Home Fixture as Football Returns To Mesopotamia

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Club Football, Corruption, Features, Guest Writer, Hassanane Balal, Iraq, transfers

5 Reasons Why We Don’t See More Iraqi Footballers In Europe

With the transfer window upon us and a large number of Iraqi footballers likely to be on the move this summer, we wanted to examine the multitude of reasons why only a limited number of Iraqi footballers have ever transferred to the top European leagues. This has always been the case with Iraqi footballers and includes even the ‘Golden Generation’ of players who defied all odds to win the … Continue reading 5 Reasons Why We Don’t See More Iraqi Footballers In Europe

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Corruption, Features, Hassanane Balal, Iraq, Radhi Shenaishil

Feature: “One Step Forward, Ten Steps Back” – Radhi Shenaishil Fired As Iraq Coach

As per the norm in Iraq, any form of positive progress must be resisted with maximum hostility. Every one step in the right direction will inevitably be met by ten other steps backwards.  The Iraqi national team is of course no exception to this rule, where countless accounts of corruption and unethical behaviour has created a spiral of failure for all those involved in the sport. Sadly, this … Continue reading Feature: “One Step Forward, Ten Steps Back” – Radhi Shenaishil Fired As Iraq Coach

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Hassanane Balal, Iraq, Match Review, Russia2018WCQ, World Cup Qualifiers

Russia 2018 WCQ Match Review: Saudi Arabia 1-0 Iraq

The lingering hopes of the most optimistic Iraqi fans were finally put to bed as Iraq’s World Cup qualification campaign for Russia 2018 came crushing down against bitter foes Saudi Arabia. Political and religious reasons make this fixture a tasty one, but with the most recent Saudi victory still lingering over bitter Iraqi tongues, revenge was in the air and the world watched in anticipation. … Continue reading Russia 2018 WCQ Match Review: Saudi Arabia 1-0 Iraq

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Hassanane Balal, Iraq, Match Review, Russia2018WCQ

Russia 2018 WCQ Match Review: Iraq 1-1 Australia

One of the many tragedies behind Iraq’s current security worries is one that is often overlooked. In a country that lives and breathes football, especially with the national team being the only source of happiness for many in a war torn nation, to be unable to watch your national team compete in front of the iraqi jumhoor (fanbase) really does put things into perspective. Every football player will tell … Continue reading Russia 2018 WCQ Match Review: Iraq 1-1 Australia

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english, Hassanane Balal, Iraq, Match Review, Radhi Shenaishil

Russia 2018 WCQ Match Review: Iraq 0-2 UAE

On the back of a 4-0 victory over Thailand, Iraq were in high spirits as they took to the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Beating UAE was the bare minimum needed in order to keep qualification for Russia 2018 alive. However, Iraq’s recent form against their Gulf rivals has been poor to say the least, with their most recent match coming in the … Continue reading Russia 2018 WCQ Match Review: Iraq 0-2 UAE

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