MALAYSIA: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Iraq soccer coach unhappy with AFC welcome in Kuala Lumpur

The Iraq soccer squad's Brazilian coach, Jorvan Vieira, criticised the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Tuesday (July 24), saying it had left his players stranded on their arrival in Kuala Lumpur for six hours without hotel rooms. Goalkeeper Noor Sabri Abras appeared at the same news conference and seemed happier than his coach, telling journalists that not just family and friends but many people across Iraq were supporting the squad through the Asian Cup competition and they hoped to get through to the final. The Iraqis will play South Korea on Wednesday in a semi-final and Vieira said his players' travelling ordeal has given an advantage to the Koreans. He said that even after waiting, the 31 squad members were initially only offered eight rooms. Iraq had a relatively easy quarter-final game, beating Vietnam 2-0 last Saturday, while the Koreans played a gruelling 120 minute match and beat Iran 4-2 on penalties on Sunday. Vieira was asked about penalty shoot-outs and replied that his squad was ready for all kinds of situations. The Asian Cup final will be played on Sunday (July 29) in Jakarta.

ITN Source | July 25, 2007

Tags:. .minute. .travelling. .south. .offered. .hoped