LONDON: Iraq midfielder Yaser Kasim said he is ready to start “a new page” after ending his self-imposed exile from international football.
The English-based midfielder made the decision to retire from the international game more than a year ago, but he is now back in the squad under coach Basim Qasim and poised to make his first appearance for his country since September 2016 when Iraq host Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
“God willing, it’s a new page and we play a good game,” he said in a press conference. “The time is right for me to return, and the schedule of the coach and we’ll do something good for the national team. I am happy that I’ve returned to the national side and there aren’t any problems with the national team. I came to train. I am relaxed and ready to train and play, that’s the most important thing. I thank the people in the FA that brought me and I thank the coach.”
The 26-year-old has turned down several national team call ups under former coach Radhi Shanaishel and the current Iraq coach Basim Qasim, seemingly preferring instead to concentrate on his career in England. He also went AWOL during the country’s preparations for the Rio Olympics. He was called up as one of three coverage players for the tournament but he left the training camp in Europe and never returned.
“I apologize that I could not come before and there are no problems or problem,” he said. “I’ve come to train and play matches.”
He is in line to play some part against Saudi Arabia at the Basra International Stadium as Amjad Atwan is injured.
“This is my first time in Basra and with the new coach Basim Qasim and we’ll train and we’ll play a good match and link-up with the players and have fun in the matches,” he said. “I send my greetings to the fans.”
Born in Baghdad, Kasim spent his youth career at Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur and has played at Brighton, Luton, Macclesfield, Swindon and now Northampton Town. He was on the verge of moving to Swansea in 2016 for £1 million ($1.4 million). He has won 18 international caps and was the star for Iraq at the 2015 Asian Cup when they finished fourth.
Yaser Kasim apologizes for previous Iraq no-shows as he prepares for Saudi Arabia return
Yaser Kasim apologizes for previous Iraq no-shows as he prepares for Saudi Arabia return
Mbappe double at Villarreal takes Real Madrid top of La Liga
VILA-REAL, Spain Kylian Mbappe netted twice to earn Real Madrid a 2-0 win at Villarreal on Saturday and take his side to the top of La Liga.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s team moved two points clear of arch-rivals Barcelona, who host bottom-of-the-table Real Oviedo on Sunday.
La Liga’s top scorer Mbappe reached 21 goals for the season in the competition to help Madrid see off a spirited Villarreal side, who are now fourth.
Arbeloa’s side have won three consecutive matches across all competitions and victory at Villarreal could be a vital step in the revival of their season.
After the shock Copa del Rey defeat at second-tier Albacete in Arbeloa’s first match at the helm just 10 days ago after replacing Xabi Alonso, his Madrid have started to take shape.
The coach has made clear how important his star players are and none has been more crucial this season than French superstar Mbappe, who has netted 34 times across all competitions.
Mbappe and Vinicius Junior “are the best players in the world, they are players who can really unbalance teams, we try to get the ball to them as much as possible,” Arbeloa told Real Madrid TV.
“They’re two players who... I’m really happy to have in this state of form and above all, because of the great work they are doing.
“They are really committed to the team, they are the first who are pressing... they’re giving this effort and solidarity that we need from them, so I’m very happy that their reward comes in the form of goals.”
It was a lively but imprecise start at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica, as the game glowed but neither side was able to seriously threaten.
Georges Mikautadze lashed a volley narrowly wide after veteran forward Gerard Moreno found him with a floating cross.
At the other end, Madrid midfielder Arda Guler fired straight at Villarreal stopper Luiz Junior after some tidy footwork, and then shot high over the bar at the end of a swift break.
Villarreal’s Juan Foyth limped off hurt in a blow for the hosts, who created a good chance for Pape Gueye just before the break.
The Senegal midfielder, a champion at the Africa Cup of Nations last weekend, powered narrowly wide of the post.
Vinicius, who excelled in Madrid’s 6-1 Champions League rout of Monaco in midweek, also came close with a rasping effort that sailed across Luiz Junior’s goal and wide.
The 25-year-old Brazil forward went a 13th straight La Liga match without scoring, but was involved as Mbappe found the net two minutes into the second half.
- ‘Nightmare for defenses’ -
Vinicius came into the box from the left flank and his low cross was blocked but Mbappe was on hand to squeeze home his 20th league goal of the campaign from close range.
“They are a nightmare for defenses,” said Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. “I hope they can keep bringing joy.”
Villarreal had the better of the second half as they worked hard to pull level, but Moreno spurned their best chance by firing inches over when well-placed.
In stoppage time, Mbappe was felled clumsily by Alfonso Pedraza in the box and the French forward cheekily dinked home the resulting penalty to seal Madrid’s victory.
Mbappe’s team-mate Brahim Diaz, who missed a similar attempted Panenka penalty for Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final, was on the pitch to see it as he returned to action for his club.
“For you,” Mbappe appeared to say to Diaz during the celebration, indicating it was a gesture of support.
“For me, the most important thing is that are united, we saw it last Wednesday with Vinicius’s goal and we saw it again today, with Brahim,” Arbeloa told reporters.
The Yellow Submarine are now 10 points behind leaders Madrid, having played one fewer match than Arbeloa’s side.
“We have to be a bit more accurate in attack against these kinds of teams,” admitted Villarreal midfielder Alberto Moleiro.
Elsewhere, fifth-placed Espanyol fell to a 3-2 defeat at Valencia that left them seven points behind Villarreal.
