Jalal Hassan
GK
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May 18, 1991 (35)
Right
6'0"
187 lb
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Set to start, trains fully Friday
Hassan trained fully with the Iraq squad on Friday and is set to start in goal against France on Tuesday, according to Zaidan Al-Rubaie of Al Khaleej.
Analysis: Hassan had missed earlier training as he worked to reset mentally following criticism for his role in the four goals conceded against Norway, but coach Graham Arnold's technical staff worked alongside the goalkeeping coach to rehabilitate his confidence rather than risk damaging either him or his backup Ahmed Basil. The decision to stick with Hassan comes as a surprise given the widespread expectation that his run with the national team could be over, but Iraq's staff have opted for continuity heading into the France clash.
Missed training, needs mental reset
Hassan (not injury related) was absent from team training, with the goalkeeper likely needing time to prepare mentally after a difficult first performance in the 4-1 defeat against Norway, according to Zaidan Al-Rubaie of Al Khaleej.
Analysis: Hassan has faced significant criticism from supporters who hold him responsible for several of the four goals conceded against Norway, with some observers calling for a change between the posts, while others have defended Hassan and stressed the importance of psychological support rather than placing the entire blame on him. Iraq's coaching staff will need to manage his confidence carefully ahead of the France fixture on June 22, with his absence from training likely tied to the need to reset mentally rather than any physical concern.
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