Iraqi Coach Bets on 65,000 Fans Against UAE as He Bans Players from Social Media

Iraq's national football team coach Graham Arnold expects 65,000 fans to create a hostile atmosphere when his team faces the UAE on Tuesday, calling the match both crucial and challenging. The Australian coach is banking on home crowd support to give Iraq the edge in what appears to be a high-stakes encounter.

Arnold made it clear that the massive turnout will make things difficult for the visiting UAE team. "The Iraqi fans are our 12th player on the field," he said during Monday's pre-match press conference. This kind of crowd support can be decisive in tight matches, especially when teams are evenly matched.

The coach has taken some interesting steps to keep his players focused. Since their last away match in Abu Dhabi, he's banned the entire squad from using social media. It's a move that shows how seriously he's taking this game and his concern about distractions.

Iraq played well in that Abu Dhabi match, which ended 1-1. Arnold told his players they need to maintain that same performance level for the full 90 minutes. But he's dealing with some injury concerns - four or five players have picked up knocks recently, though he says the team is ready even if the match goes to a penalty shootout.

The coach emphasized that his team didn't play defensively in the first leg. This suggests Iraq plans to take the game to the UAE rather than sit back and defend their away goal. With a packed stadium behind them, they'll likely push for the win that would secure their progression.

Arnold stressed that mental focus will be their most important weapon. His players are technically, mentally, and tactically prepared, but staying sharp throughout the match will determine the outcome. The pressure of playing at home with such expectations can work both ways - it can lift players or overwhelm them.