National team player and Al-Wasl club player Nicolas Gimenez stated that the task of the "White" team has become complicated after a 1-1 draw with Iraq in the first leg of the fifth-round playoff for the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Gimenez told "Al-Ittihad Al-Youm" that the national team wanted to win to gain an advantage before the return match in Basra, but luck was not on their side. He added that the team did not play well in the first half, but improved in the second, controlling the midfield and the ball well, and creating more than one chance, though not as effectively as needed. Gimenez emphasized that the return match in Basra has become complicated, but they must go to fight for a win and a ticket to the World Cup intercontinental playoff. He also noted that the referee's decisions were not fair in some cases, but it is necessary to close this file and focus on the return match. Gimenez called on the players to take responsibility and not repeat the mistakes of the first half, where they lost the ball easily and allowed the opponent to create more dangerous chances. He concluded that the team is aware of the opponent's strength but will be mentally and physically ready to play only for victory. "We want to present a big game worthy of our national team, and we will fight to win and continue our journey in the qualifiers because we believe in our chances of reaching the World Cup," he said. "Players need to increase their insistence, enthusiasm, and desire to make up for what was lost, especially since the team has the ability to come back strongly if it maintains its focus and invests the opportunities in the upcoming match. The match against Iraq will be very difficult, but we know how they play, and our goal is to show ourselves better than them and impose our style on the field. We must learn from these mistakes and avoid repeating them in Basra," he added. Gimenez stressed that the match against Iraq will be crucial for the team's journey to the World Cup finals, indicating that the team is fully aware of the magnitude of the challenge and the importance of achieving a win after the opportunity that was lost to Qatar in the previous round, along with wasting a winning opportunity in Abu Dhabi. "The preparation for the next match will be at the highest level, and we will work with the technical staff to study all the details of the Iraqi national team. Our goal is to please the fans and repay the trust they have placed in us," he concluded.
