Iraq start from scratch insists Sidka

AFC – DOHA, Coach Wolfgang Sidka urged fans to forget about past glories as Iraq begin their defence of the AFC Asian Cup title with a mouth-watering Group D clash against regional rivals Iran at Al Rayyan Stadium on Tuesday.

Much has changed since Iraq’s heroic victory back in 2007 and in the subsequent three-and-a-half years they have slipped 33 places in the world rankings to 101st, with instability at home still a dominant issue.

Desperate to rekindle the magic that was worked under Jorvan Vieira at the last edition of the tournament, Iraq have worked their way through a number of coaches before calling on experienced German coach Sidka last year.

The former Bahrain boss certainly faces a mighty task to get his side through the group stage, let alone stage a successful title defence, and the 56-year-old was quick to stress the need to put behind them their previous triumph and look towards the future.

“It was a huge success in 2007 and it was a big surprise. I saw matches from then and a lot of the staff around me have told me of the success and how proud they were of this,” he said. “But this is a new competition and we start from zero again.

“As title holders we have confidence but there are other teams who are able to win the tournament.”

One of those other teams with title aspirations is Tuesday’s opponents Iran, whose coach Afshin Ghotbi boldly claimed recently his side are strong contenders to claim a fourth Asian Cup trophy and first in over 30 years.

The match between the two sides is certainly one of the more enticing in the whole group stage and Sidka expects it to prove to be the most closely-fought encounter in the tournament yet.

“I know it will be a very tough match,” added the former Werder Bremen coach.

“It is match between the title holder and three time champions. It will be very hard and I think the toughest of all the games in the group stage.

“We have analysed the team and we are prepared to face them.”

As for Iraq’s own aspirations at the tournament, Sidka offered a guarded response and instead plans to take things one game at a time.

‘I think (people) are looking too far ahead,” he continued.

“We are focused only on our immediate target, which is the match against Iran.

“If we win we get three points. It is a special match, and a derby but we are focused only on the win and nothing else.”