FIFA U-17 World Cup: Iraq U-17 Preview -- Asia's best still looking for maiden win in WC

ONE LOOK AT THE performances of the Iraq Under-17 team in Asia and the world stage shows how much of a jump it is to rise from one to the other.

Within the continent, Iraq U-17 seems to be an unstoppable force. They just won the AFC Under-16 Championship held in India (where India U-17 finished at the bottom of their group with 1 draw and 2 losses), earning their second ever qualification for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. There's litte doubt that this squad is a class apart from India at the moment. But in the U-17 World Cup itself, they are at the same place as India: neither have managed to win a single match.

In the FIFA U-17 World Cup of 2013, Iraq lost all 3 of their group stage matches. This time, with the World Cup being hosted in India, the Iraqi team will look to continue the good run of form that they showed in their maiden Asian triumph.

Placed in a group with Malasia, Oman and South Korea, Iraq beat all 3 of them to get into the knockouts and overcame Uzbekistan and Japan to set up a final showdown for the Asian crown against arch rivals Iran. The thrilling match went into penalties and Iraq won 4-3.

In next month's World Cup, they are placed in a group with England, Mexico and Chile, so their job to make a mark will be tougher than ever.

Iraq's junior teams don't have a reputation for consistency, partly due to the fluctuating political landscape of the country. But this time, under the watchful eyes of head coach Ali Hadi, they have assembled a good bunch of players who are arguably Iraq's best offering to the world stage yet.

Much depends on the attacking midfielder Mohammed Dawood, who was a veritable threat to opposition defence during the Asian U-16 Championship. His goals carried the team in the knockout stage. He scored both goals against Uzbekistan in the quarter finals, got a hat-trick against Japan in the semis and buried his penalty kick in the all-important final, scoring the winning goal against Iran. He was the highest scorer of the tournament and also earned the Most Valuable Player award. The youngster who has already landed a contract with top tier Iraqi club Al-Naft (one of two players in the current Iraq U-17 squad to have a club), is definitely going to be the focal point of his country's attack in the U-17 World Cup.

In the goal-getting department he will be supported by the likes of strikers Alaa Adnan Jabbar, Mohammed Ridha Jalil and serial overlapper sideback Muntadher Abdulsada.

At the goal there's Ali Ibadi Jabbar, who will be guarded by Ammar Al-Lami, Ali Ahmed Radha and Moamel Kareem Khachi. The midfield has the stout presence of Mundadher Mohammed and Habeeb Khalaf to count on.

Iraq are perhaps Asia's best bet in the upcoming U-17 World Cup. But their biggest target for the tournament will be to make it past the group stage, or at least get one win. Their grouping has not been the kindest, but they will hopefully get the support of a full house in Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium as the sole Asian team playing in that venue.

Get the latest in the world of Sports, Teams, and Players! Free Delivery to your Inbox.