Iraq’s coach Casas issues stern warning for perfect performance against Jordan

Iraq’s national football team, under the guidance of coach Jesus Casas, has faced a crucial Asian Cup last-16 clash against Jordan. Casas emphasized the need for a “perfect” performance to secure victory and acknowledged the challenging nature of the upcoming match.

Despite achieving a flawless record in the group stage, including a remarkable win against Japan, Casas remained cautious about their title chances, stressing the consequences of any mistakes in the knockout rounds.

Casas, a former assistant to Spain’s national team coach Luis Enrique, expressed satisfaction with Iraq’s tournament journey so far, highlighting the pride of the Iraqi people in the players’ performances. However, he emphasized the difficulty of the impending match against Jordan, describing it as “very, very, very hard” due to the opponent’s quality. Casas acknowledged the unpredictability of football matches, citing potential factors like red cards, penalties, mistakes, and nervousness, which could sway the outcome.

While recognizing Jordan’s capabilities, Casas maintained Iraq’s commitment to their attacking style of play. Despite the potential threat posed by Jordan’s attackers, Casas affirmed that his team would adhere to their offensive strategy, having scored eight goals in the tournament thus far. The coach was steadfast in not altering their approach, emphasizing a proactive style that involves ball control and creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities.

In response to questions during the pre-match press conference, the 50-year-old coach expressed irritation at queries about his interviews with Spanish media.

Casas dismissed any criticism as “a big stupid,” redirecting the focus back to the upcoming challenge against Jordan. A victory for Iraq remains crucial, considering their aspirations to replicate the fairytale 2007 Asian Cup triumph and progress further in the tournament.