Iraq Olympic team.

DOHA: Iraq will be hoping that luck will be on their side when they take on Lebanon in their final Group A match of the AFC Final Round qualifiers for the 2008 Beijing Olympics on Wednesday.
 
Following their 2-0 defeat against Australia last Saturday, Iraq's chances of qualifying for next year's summer Olympic Games received a major blow and they must now win their match against Lebanon while hoping last-placed DPR Korea down Australia in Pyongyang.
 
Despite knowing they have a slim chance to qualify from the group, Iraq coach Yahya Alwan is still hoping that fortune will be on their side.
 
"We didn't have a good match against Australia and we missed Ali Hussain Rahima in the centre of defence," said Alwan of the influential AFC Asian Cup-winning centre-half.
 
"We were hoping to have a good performance but it wasn't our day.
 
"Our players took the Australians too lightly and they were punished for that. We still have a slight chance and we must win the game against Lebanon, which will be my last match with the Olympic team."
 
Iraq returned to the Middle East after a long journey without three of their players and assistant coach Saadi Touma who remained in Australia along with Ali Abbas, Ali Mansur and Ali Khadher.
 
The team will miss the services of midfielder Karrar Jassim, who received his second yellow card in the qualifiers along with defenders Haider Sabbah and Ali Hussein Irhema who will miss the game through injury.
 
Lebanon, who left for Doha on Monday afternoon, lost any hope of qualifying from the group following their 2-1 home defeat against DPR Korea but coach Emile Rustom will be hoping that his side put on a better showing that against the Koreans last Saturday.
 
"The morale of the players was bad before the DPR Korea game after they received the news of Australia beating Iraq earlier on the day," said Rustom.
 
"There was no motivation at all and we tried our best to lift their morale but the players lot their enthusiasm.