Iraqi boost

The Iraq national team are to train and play friendly matches in England as part of their preparation for the Asia Cup.

Under The FA’s international relations programme the Iraqis will use the facilities at England’s Bisham Abbey training camp and also be accommodated at the Burnham Beeches hotel complex.

Matches are scheduled for Bristol Rovers and at another, as yet undecided, venue in the midlands against Trinidad & Tobago during their two-week stay, which will also include a game with a League Select XI in Macclesfield on May 27.

Iraq, trained by German coach Bernd Stange, are scheduled to play in the Asia Cup in China, which runs from July 17 to August 7, and also have a friendly pencilled in against Italy on June 4.