Iraq coach: We created many chances against Kuwait, could have sealed win early

Iraq coach Graham Arnold acknowledged his team's ability to create numerous chances against Kuwait, potentially allowing them to secure an early victory during the Gulf Cup's group stage match in Jeddah. The Iraqi national football team coach emphasized the challenging nature of facing Kuwait during the match at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium.

Speaking at a press conference after Iraq's 3-2 win, Arnold detailed the various opportunities his side had, which could have resulted in an early win before Kuwait scored their first goal. He highlighted that half of the squad had previously participated in the World Cup, noting the presence of experienced players who can guide and inspire the younger team members.

In contrast, Kuwait coach Helio Sousa expressed pride in his team's performance and lamented the loss. Sousa pointed out that Kuwait had two chances in the first half and created several chances in the second half, including a missed opportunity to score a third goal before Iraq found the net. The Kuwaiti coach mentioned that he made some tactical adjustments during the match, expressing a preference for limited substitutions.

He stressed the importance of maintaining focus at critical moments and the necessity of refining small details to assist the team in advancing and accomplishing its objectives. Following this result, Iraq climbed to four points, while Kuwait maintained a one-point lead as they prepare for the final round of group stage matches.