Being part of Iraq's World Cup squad 'a joy' - Al-Hamadi

Ipswich striker Ali Al-Hamadi says he and the rest of the Iraq squad want to give people "something to remember" as they prepare to open their World Cup campaign on Tuesday night against Norway.

Al-Hamadi, now 24, was a baby when his mother and father escaped Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime in the early 2000s and moved to Liverpool.

He represented Liverpool schoolboys before joining Tranmere Rovers and eventually signing for Ipswich two years ago, spending last season on loan at Luton Town in League One.

He has scored five goals in 29 appearances for Ipswich.

"We know it's tournament football and we know upsets have happened before," Al-Hamadi told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"We just want to enjoy this experience and represent Iraq in the best way possible in terms of football, but also in terms of us as people, as a nation. We want to give people something to remember.

"If you go down you have to go down trying your best.

"There are people from all different backgrounds, cultures and environments, but at the root we're all Iraqi and we're coming here to represent our people.

"It's a joy to be a part of."

Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds