Iraqi football(soccer) team

[abskebabs]

I thought I would share this with everyone hear, I'm sure some of you may have heard about the recent progress of the Iraqi football team(or soccer, for the benefit of Americans). They recently trounced Australia, one of the favourites in their opening game(I think it was their opening game, the tournament's only just begun) of the Asia cup. I must say reading about the result made me feel elated. All the things this country, its people, and its team to have been through, it does bring water to my eyes thinking and reading about it. Football, I think, can make a real difference in these kinds of times, and could be a real source of unity and hope for the country if they succeed.

 

I will provide a few links to related news stories but I'm sure people can find them themselves too.

http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/03/1968398.htm?section=world

http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=352194

 

I think I may try and follow the Asia cup from now on, not in the least bit bothered about my country of birth; India's progress is not of concern to me, I doubt they even qualified! Against the odds if Iraq were to win the cup I think it would bring me to tears:-) . It might not change things completely but it would be symbolic and people would remember it. I wish them all the luck in the world and hope to follow their progress.

 

Actually with regard to this, does anyone know any television channels or other sources of media that are covering the Asia cup? I would prefer channels that operate in the UK, as that is where I am. Also what are your emotions, feelings and viewpoints regarding this?

[abskebabs]

Looks like Iraq are now through to the semi finals. They just beat Vietnam 2-0 in the quarter finals. I'm really happy for them, but just unhappy I couldn't watch their last 2 games myself. Things are getting exciting now:-) ! I really hope they do well and wish them all the best with their next game. Would be great if somehow I would be able to find some television channel that is broadcasting the games or somewhere on the Internet showing them.

 

I wonder how much this is affecting people back in Iraq, and if it does manage to put a smile on their face amidst the turmoil. Regardless, the players are doing their country proud.

 

On another note, I found a video on Youtube showing the reactions of Iraqis after the win over Australia. Unfortunately I can't understand Arabic, but it was pretty uplifting nevertheless.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ6Sx_sZXiw

[abskebabs]

Woohoo:-) ! Iraq are through to the final! This is truly historic and wonderful, it's the first time they've ever got there! They face Saudi Arabia in an all Arab final. Things have become very interesting... I really hope and think this may have helped raise spirits. Here's an article from the Asia cup website regarding this:

http://www.afcasiancup.com/en/tournament/mtindex.asp?aid=50505&cid=1377&mt=12046&sec=105&ssec=246

 

There's some awful news from Baghdad I feel will sadly marr the memory of the iraq victory. In the Shiite district of Sadr city football fans were attacked by suicide car bombers, killing 50. I really hope this does not stoke sectarianism, because as far as I can see, the national football team is one of the last remaining enduring images of Iraqi unity. I will provide a link to a news report:http://voanews.com/english/2007-07-25-voa57.cfm

 

For some reason, it seems to me only foreign terrorists would attack such a gathering, it seems unfathomable to me that Iraqi Sunnis would carry out such an attack, thereby I hope Shiites do not lash out at Sunnis over this:-( .

[abskebabs]

Woohoo:-) ! Iraq have won the Asia cup! I offer my congratulations to the Iraqi pople and their team.

http://www.afcasiancup.com/en/tournament/mtindex.asp?aid=50768&cid=1377&mt=12049&sec=105&ssec=246

[MangoChutney]

Woohoo:-) ! Iraq have won the Asia cup! I offer my congratulations to the Iraqi pople and their team.

http://www.afcasiancup.com/en/tournament/mtindex.asp?aid=50768&cid=1377&mt=12049&sec=105&ssec=246

 

And congratulations too

 

I promise that the following is true.

 

When I was younger I played football (soccor for youse guise across the pond) against a team of Jewish people, who didn't take off their skull caps, although not all of them wore one. Often, when they attempted to head the ball and sometimes just run after the ball, their skull caps would come off and they would stop to pick it up and replace it!

 

We won

[blike]

Awesome! But this quote from the captain is rather sad:

 

"I don't want the Iraqi people to be angry with me. But, if I go back with the team, anybody could kill me or try to hurt me. (

source

)

[ecoli]

When I was younger I played football (soccor for youse guise across the pond) against a team of Jewish people, who didn't take off their skull caps, although not all of them wore one. Often, when they attempted to head the ball and sometimes just run after the ball, their skull caps would come off and they would stop to pick it up and replace it!

 

I actually find this borderline offensive, and completely irrelevant to the thread.

 

I think you'll find that not all Jews are bad at soccer. Football is the Israel's unofficial national sport, afterall. (though that's obviously not unique to Israel) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_in_Israel