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Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday, defeating Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico to seal their first appearance at the finals in 40 years.
Iraq, whose preparations for Tuesday’s playoff had been disrupted by the war in the Middle East, will play in Group I against France, Senegal and Norway.
Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein secured a famous win for Iraq, whose last appearance at the World Cup came at the 1986 finals in Mexico.
The win marked a triumph for Iraq’s Australian coach, Graham Arnold, who had initially sought to have Tuesday’s fixture postponed due to the disruption caused by the regional conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Most of the Iraqi squad only reached Mexico after a gruelling three-day journey from Baghdad that began with an overland crossing into Jordan.
But there was little sign of weariness during a confident start by Iraq, who took the lead after nine minutes through Luton Town striker Al-Hamadi – the 24-year-old who moved to Liverpool as a toddler after the outbreak of the 2003 Iraq war.
Iraq midfielder Amir Al-Ammari won a corner after a superb free-kick that was saved at full stretch from Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.
From the subsequent set piece Al-Ammari curled a pinpoint corner on to the head of Al-Hamadi who nodded home for 1-0.
Iraq were well worth the early goal and looked in control until Bolivia, who had gradually grown into the game, equalised after 38 minutes.
Ramiro Vaca’s shot from the edge of the area was controlled with one touch by Moises Paniagua and the Morocco-based central midfielder swept into the roof of the net.
The goal stunned Iraq and Bolivia looked likely to grab a second after dominating the remainder of the half.
Iraq regained the lead eight minutes into the second half, when a long ball forward was nodded into the path of substitute Marko Lawk-Farji.
Lawk-Farji’s cross found captain Hussein and the veteran striker clipped a first-time finish into the bottom corner.
Bolivia pressed frantically for a goal to force extra-time, but Iraq’s well-marshalled defence held firm during a nerve-shredding nine minutes of stoppage time. Agence France-Presse
DRC claim place at World Cup by beating Jamaica
The Democratic Republic of Congo grabbed the second-last available berth at the World Cup finals by beating Jamaica 1-0 in their inter-confederation playoff on Tuesday with Axel Tuanzebe netting an extra-time winner to see them return to the finals after a 52-year wait.
The former England under-21 international bundled the ball over the line from a corner in the 100th minute but had to wait for more than minute while it was checked for a possible handball before being confirmed as a goal.
It was as much as the Congolese deserved, having dominated proceedings in a fast-flowing match without many clear-cut chances at Estadio Guadalajara, which will be one of the three Mexican venues for the World Cup.
It is the second time DR Congo have qualified for the finals, more than half a century after their initial appearance in 1974 when the country was known as Zaire.
They are the 10th African country to have qualified and at the World Cup, will compete in Group K against Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan.
Jamaica were playing a second game in five days after last Thursday edging New Caledonia 1-0 in their semi-final tie, also in Guadalajara. DR Congo’s higher Fifa ranking meant they were seeded straight into Tuesday’s decider. Reuters
