Iraq wins the Asian Cup
July 29th, 2007 by Tank
Cinderella story Iraq defeated three-time champion Saudi Arabia 1-0 to win the Asian Cup. Was anyone else aware that the Saudis were a regional soccer power? A country whose citizenry is bound together only by the commonality of not doing any work whatsoever? Perhaps the national soccer squad is farmed out to expats from the Subcontinent, like every other physical activity in the Kingdom. Anyway, congratulations to the Iraqis for an upset victory, as well as for creating a point of national unity, however fleeting.
UPDATE:
As Cliffy points out, one hesitates to ascribe much geopolitical significance to the Iraqi victory. Still, here is an interesting post from a prominent Iraqi blogger on the atmosphere in Baghdad.
July 29th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
We’re told how sports can bring us together and can be a source of healing for so many - and to a certain extent, I happen to believe that. It’d be wonderful if Iraq’s victory could someone prove to be a rallying point for those yearning for a unified Iraq, but that seems sadly - and extremely - unlikely.
I don’t pretend to have the answers for that quagmire, but if this were a Disney movie, than yes… the nation would see that this team of Sunnis and Shiites (and Kurds as well?) was able to put personal differences aside and achieve great things as a result. Sometimes real-life events are described as “so improbably wonderful that if it were a Hollywood movie, nobody would believe it”.
I don’t envision the Hollywood (or even Bollywood, if we’re to be more regional) ending here, but it woulda been nice, eh?