Double-Pressure Preps Bahrain for Iraq Showdown in Arab Cup Opener

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Dragan Talajic, Bahrain head coach, emphasized that tomorrow's match against Iraq, in the opening round of Group D of the Arab Cup, will require double focus and effort to secure a positive result.

He noted that Bahrain completed the first task with a win over Djibouti, and now faces Iraq with full respect for a World Cup playoff bound team; he said tomorrow's game will be a different challenge.

Talajic added that the Arab Cup group contains strong teams, the tournament is full of challenges. If Bahrain wants to go far, they must approach every match with confidence and aim for a final showing with determination.

He continued that the previous Bahrain victory over Iraq in the Gulf Cup belongs to the past, and today they face a new and difficult test. He noted the strength of the Iraqi team and the capabilities of its coach, and that Bahrain seeks a performance worthy of its ambitions.

Mehdi Hamidan, a Bahrain player, commented at the briefing that openers are always tough, especially when both sides know each other9s approach. He said they enter with strong motivation and aim to start the competition with three important points.

The player concluded that Iraq deserves its place in the World Cup playoff and that he has familiarity with its players from his time in Iraq, recognizing the Iraqi team's strength and that Bahrain has prepared accordingly.

Bahrain has never won the Arab Championship and now aims to contend for the title in this edition, seeking to write its name in the list of champions. The two teams previously met in the group stage of the previous edition, and that match ended in a goalless draw.

The Bahrain team seeks to defend its hopes in the Arab Cup and present a respectable image befitting Gulf champions after winning the Gulf Cup 26 title earlier this year in Kuwait.

The Bahrain side performed well in the qualifiers against Djibouti, with Mohammed Al-Rumayhi scoring the decisive goal, and they hope to continue the winning run under coach Talajic, who took charge in February 2024.

Punchline 1: If Bahrain's defense is as tight as their press conference, Iraq better bring snacks as well as chances.

Punchline 2: Football is a simple game with 22 players chasing a ball for 90 minutes and a referee deciding who wins the glory; in Bahrain's case the press conference is a built-in extra, just in case.