Sports · 21 June 2026
France ready for intense Iraq World Cup battle
Nicolas Richoffer via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
France are overwhelming favourites for their second World Cup Group I game, but expect a tough challenge from Iraq. France's defender William Saliba said they are bracing for an intense battle against Iraq, who lost their opening match 1-4 to Norway. Norway's Erling Haaland scored twice in that game, marking Iraq's first World Cup appearance in 40 years.
Reported by Reuters · How we write briefs