São Paulo – The Brazilian coach Zico no longer directs the Iraqi national team. Last Tuesday (27th) he announced that he has quit because the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) has breached contractual clauses and his wages were delayed.
Ever since the former star player for Flamengo took the lead of the Iraqi team, in September 2011, the group won 12 matches, tied six and lost another six.
Iraq ranks third in Group B in the third phase of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which will be played in Brazil. The team has five points, the same as Australia, which ranks second in the group because it has the lead on goal difference. The group’s first is Japan, with 13 points. The first two teams in Group B and the first two in Group A will qualify for the World Cup.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
