EXCLUSIVE: Hussein Ali on Iraq's World Cup return, facing Mbappe and his roots in Sweden

Iraq are back at the World Cup after 40 years. What does that mean to you personally, to your family and to the Iraqi people?

"It's a big pleasure. It was 40 years ago that we last qualified, so to be part of the generation that takes Iraq back to the World Cup is a big honour. My family are proud, my close friends, everyone is proud that we're on this journey now. Hopefully we can deliver good results at the tournament."

Growing up, did you ever imagine you would be part of the generation that takes Iraq back?

"When you're young, everyone's dream is to play at the World Cup. It's the biggest stage in football, so of course I had that dream. You never know, because football moves so fast, so I wouldn't say I knew for certain I would play in one. But I always had the dream that one day I would."

What is the atmosphere like around the national team now? More pressure, pride, excitement, or all of it?

"It's a mix of everything. You want to deliver, but you're very excited for what's coming. To be honest, in the group we're in, we have nothing to lose. It's the opposition who have more to lose. So we're excited just to play good football and hopefully show the world that we're ready to compete for the coming years."

You represented Sweden at youth level before choosing the senior Iraqi team. How important was your Swedish football education?

"It's a big part of my development. I was in Sweden until I was 19 or 20. I was at Malmo, then Orebro, and after that I left for Holland and then Poland. Sweden is a big part of who I am as a player and I'm thankful and grateful for the opportunities they gave me."

Was it a difficult decision to choose Iraq, or did you have any doubts?

"The first conversation I had was about two and a half, three years ago, with the coach who was here then, a Spanish coach. It was a good conversation, and from then on I felt it was a good step for me to join the national team.

"We've been developing ever since, getting better and better. Now we have an Australian coach, Graham Arnold, and he's doing a very good job with us. We're moving forward and it's improving every year."

Your group is France, Norway and Senegal. When you saw that draw, what was your first reaction?

"Honestly? Excitement. To play against big superstars is a good way to test yourself, and it's good experience for us as a national team. Almost all of our players are very young, so it's a good step to prove what we can do. We also played Spain in a friendly and drew 1-1, so it shows we have the quality. We just have to keep going and improve every day."

As a defender, what goes through your mind when you know you'll be marking Kylian Mbappe?

"I've heard that question a lot of times, it's a normal one. But honestly, I just focus on the games ahead. We have a friendly against Venezuela, then Norway in our first World Cup game. Of course, everyone knows Mbappe is a big quality player.

"It's about being the best version of yourself, doing the best you can, and you never know what happens. It's good experience for me to play against players like this and see how the very top of football looks. I'm very excited for it."

Is there any way to stop Mbappe one-on-one, or does it have to be done as a team?

"He's a very good player, but football is a collective sport. You defend together and you attack together. If you do it well together, it works. Of course, when you end up in one-on-one situations you try your best to stop him, but you have to do it collectively, both defensively and offensively, to make things work for the team."

Norway have Erling Haaland, who can decide a game with one touch. As a right-back, how do you prepare for a player like him?

"We have very physical, strong players. That's one of our strengths. The most important thing is to be at 100% all the time, because at a World Cup it comes down to decisive milliseconds. Everything is about the margins, so you always have to be on your toes, ready for every second until the game is finished.

"If I'm playing against someone very technical, I watch clips to see how they move, how they like to receive the ball, where their weaknesses are. Knowing whether someone prefers going outside or inside helps me read it in the game and do the best I can in that situation."

Do you prefer playing against a player like Mbappe or Haaland?

"Both are quality, so it doesn't matter to me. The thing is, Mbappe is often out wide and Erling is mostly central, so Erling will be up against the centre backs most of the time while Mbappe stays on the side. I also spoke to Benjamin Mendy before coming here and he told me they're quality players, but to just do your work, do your best, and everything is possible. It's football, 90 minutes, 11 against 11. You never know what happens."

France and Norway will be favourites against Iraq. Can that actually help you to play with freedom and surprise people?

"Of course. That's why it's good to play these big nations. We don't have anything to lose and they come with the pressure. We come to play our game and show the world we're capable. We're humble about it. We know we're not the favourites, but we'll go out there to do the work and try to collect points."

You played in the Netherlands with Heerenveen. What did the Eredivisie teach you as a right-back before you moved to Poland?

"There's a lot of offensive football in Holland, very one-versus-one oriented. People are technically gifted, so you face wingers who are shifty and can do things on their own. I learned to handle those one-versus-one situations and to be more offensively minded. The football there is disciplined and fast. I learned a lot, and now in Poland I'm learning a lot too."

It's a different kind of football in the Ekstraklasa, isn't it?

"It's different. Poland is physical and strong, the players are fast, and it's more of a team game than one-versus-one. It's good for me because you're up against strong, quick guys who run all game. The Ekstraklasa is also getting better all the time. It's a good learning step for me."

If you had to compare the levels, where would you put the Ekstraklasa alongside Sweden and the Eredivisie?

"Honestly, the Ekstraklasa and the Eredivisie are pretty similar in quality, which is impressive. This year the league was very tight, alive until the very last game. I'd say Poland and Holland are the same level, and Sweden is not as strong right now, to be honest."

Has the Ekstraklasa helped get you ready for a World Cup?

"Definitely. The last few games went well, I scored some goals, which gives me a lot of confidence. Hopefully I can carry that into the World Cup and be ready."

Your compatriot Amir Al-Ammari also plays in Poland, at Cracovia. Do you think there will be more Iraqi players in the Ekstraklasa?

"We definitely hope so. We want the country to get a lot of players abroad and we want people to keep an eye on them. For us, we hope we can take a good first step so other Iraqis come and show themselves in the Polish league in the future. It would be nice to open that path for the other guys."

Has playing in Europe changed your style compared to Asian football?

"It's a different style in Asia. There it's almost unpredictable, you can't really predict what will happen. You play against players who chop inside and put in a cross you've never seen in your life, world class, and it goes both ways. You never know, so you have to be on your toes.

"I think that shocks European national teams when they face us, because European football is very good but quite predictable. You can almost feel where it's going. In Asia, you never know. It comes in a click and then, boom, something happens."

Finally, what message would you give the Iraqi kids who will be watching the World Cup?

"Just to enjoy it. And if there's a young generation coming through who want to play for Iraq, to show them we're building something for the next generations to take over, to play with pride and passion. Iraq is always very passionate.

"We want to give them good football and let people see Iraq in a different way from now on. Hopefully more guys come through who want to represent the country, and this becomes a good step for them."

Follow Iraq's first World Cup match with Flashscore.