Iraq’s Soccer Team Advances

Correspondent Terry McCarthy blogs from Baghdad: It felt like the entire population of Iraq was holding its breath. After the national side had battled South Korea in the semi-finals of the Asia Cup for 120 minutes, including over time, the game had come down to penalties. The teams were 3-3 on penalties when Iraq’s goalkeeper Noor Sabri Abbas saved a South Korean attempt. And then another. Iraqis erupted onto the streets, and within seconds celebratory gunfire could be heard in Baghdad and other cities. Incredibly the team from one of the most divided and troubled nations on earth had won a place in the finals. It seemed as if everything bad had been forgotten for the time being — parents held up babies, men showered crowds with water hoses, drivers honked their horns. (At left, Iraqi fans celebrate the team’s victory today.) The violence was not too far away, sadly. Several hours after the game two suicide bombers in different parts of Baghdad drove into celebrating crowds — some 50 people were killed and many more injured. Sadly, Iraqis are all-too familiar with violence, and Baghdad absorbed these atrocities as it has had to absorb so many before. For most Iraqis soccer is a unifying sport — the Iraqi team is a model of diversity, with Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish players. The coach is a Brazilian, Jorvan Vieira, and he has repeatedly said he will not tolerate sectarian behavior of any kind in his team, focusing solely on playing good soccer. Today he got the result he was looking for. And now all Iraq is looking forward to Sunday’s finals, when they play Saudi Arabia. Iraqis have few things to be proud about their nation these days, but the national soccer team is a glorious exception.