Graham Arnold: I was surprised by the fuss after Iraq's Gulf Cup exit

Iraq national football team coach Graham Arnold on Saturday expressed his surprise at the fuss that followed the team's exit from the 27th Gulf Cup.

Arnold said during a press conference, before entering a meeting with the Football Association: "I thank the Iraqi public for their support and encouragement of the team, and regarding the critics about the loss, we played against the strongest team in the Middle East, which is the Saudi team."

He added that the new players showed what they can contribute and add to the other players who were absent due to injury or did not take part in the tournament, and that we now have greater depth in the squad and more options we can rely on.

He explained that resorting to drawing lots in this way is like the football played by ten-year-old children and does not reflect a serious approach, and that was the most disappointing thing for him in the Gulf Cup. Apart from that, he left the tournament happy — which is why he returned to Baghdad — and he did not understand the reason for all the fuss about their exit, because he had seen many positive things.