Iraqi insurgents break ranks over Asian Cup title and other soccer news

It looks like the newest battle in Iraq's civil war has to do with their country's spectacular win in the Asian Cup as an insurgent group called Hamas al-Iraq has congratulated the team on their success.

"Hamas al-Iraq congratulates the Iraqi people on the occasion of our national team's winning the Asian Cup for 2007," the Sunni Muslim militant group said in a statement posted on a Web site used by al Qaeda and other insurgents.

The response to this web posting was swift as a supporter of the Islamic State in Iraq insurgent group wrote, "We urge the administrators to remove this shameful statement which infringes on the status of the Web site... May God punish those who let down our mujahideen brothers of the Islamic State in Iraq."

Sports stars in Iraq are regular targets for insurgents, as seen in June when 'the decomposed remains of at least 13 Iraqi martial arts stars were found in a ditch in Anbar province. The taekwondo squad had been kidnapped on their way to Jordan.'


In other soccer news, Anthony Lyons is trying to solve the homeless problem in Gainesville, FL, by using soccer. His plan is to get team up and running in time to participate in a national homeless soccer tournament in Washington, D.C., in the spring. He hopes this team will see the same sort of results other homeless teams have seen across the globe. After the 2005 Homeless World Cup, 77% of players went on to make improvements in their lives. Also, a team in Charlotte, NC, saw 14 of their 23 players from homes, five have found jobs, three have addressed mental disabilities and two have completed drug treatment programs, according to the team's Web site.


If you are looking to shade some pounds, soccer is a great way to do it. "An Italian study found that soccer players in a 30-minute pickup game exercised above 70 percent of their maximum heart rate 91 percent of the time. Their heart rates stayed elevated even when they weren't running as hard because they were constantly changing direction."


Finally, the Germans out do themselves again. After a beer tap failed to work on a train carrying a team's fans to a match, Germany's national railway halted the train for 25-minutes so a replacement tap could be delivered and installed. The train and the fans then continued on.

Iraq to play USA - Future headline

Congratulations to Iraq for winning the Asian Cup but I'm going to guess that celebrating seems a little out of place. Still, this win earns Iraq a trip to the 2009 Confederations Cup along with Italy, South Africa, Brazil and the USA plus the champions of Europe, Africa and Oceania.

The tournament's opening round is divided into two groups of four with the top two advancing to the knockout stages. Since the two European teams and two African teams cannot be in the same group, that means there is a 1 in 3 chance of the US and Iraq ending up in the same group. Failing some huge change in the current state of life in Iraq, this might just prove to be the most political match since the Argentine-England meeting in the 1986 World Cup (their first meeting since the Falkland Islands war).

Iraq captain Younis Mahmoud let his feelings about the current situation in his country be known right after the match: "I want America to go out," he said. "Today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, but out. I wish the American people didn't invade Iraq and, hopefully, it will be over soon."

2007 Asian Cup news - More joy for Iraq thanks to soccer

The country of Iraq doesn't have much to bring it joy these days, however their national soccer team is trying hard to change all that. The Iraqi squad beat Vietnam 2-0 in first knockout round of the Asian Cup to advance to the semi-finals for the first time since 1976.

Hundreds of Iraqis swarmed out of their houses after the victory, waving their country's flag and honking horns as men and boys jumped on top of minibuses and other vehicles. Those without flags took off their shirts and waved them.

An outcome of a soccer match means little long term for people suffering through everything that is happening in Iraq, however, even if just for a few moments, the game of soccer has been able to give them something of which to be proud.

Sadly, even in these moments, tragedy surfaces as two people were killed and 15 injured during due to celebratory gunfire.

In other Asian Cup action, the big game between Australia and Japan lived up to the billing as the sides were tied at 1 after extra time. In penalty kicks, Japan came out on top 4-3 thus earning some revenge for the 3-1 defeat in last year's World Cup.

Soccer brings joy to Iraq

Earlier today, the Iraqi soccer team pulled off a great upset when they trashed Australia 3-1 in the Asian Cup. This surprise victory sent people to the streets of Iraq in joy. They honked horns, waved flags an all around enjoyed the moment.

"Despite all of what is happening, the most important thing for us is Iraq. Soccer unites Iraq. Long live Iraq," a man shouted from inside his car before driving away.

For a country that lives with a daily threat of death just about anywhere, this was a welcome reprieve. However, with all that has happened to Iraq, the politics of this win cannot be removed.

"The game today was some kind of a challenge because we were playing with a country that has military presence here and at the same time a country known to have a strong team" said lawyer Mohammed al-Kharasani, 52. "Regrettably, the Australian team played looking down to us since they are an occupying country."

I'm not sure if the played down to them because of the occupation but that is just about as good as any other excuse for Australia's horrible play so far in the Asian Cup. With one more group game to go, they must get a win if they hope to advance. The Socceroos play hosts Thailand on Monday in a must win game. Meanwhile, Iraq will play Oman needing only a tie to guarantee a spot in the second round.