The World Newser
World News' Daily Blog
The World Newser is World News' daily blog. Here, you'll find our staff's thoughts on the day's news and the way we build our broadcast. Plus, we'll share reports from our team of correspondents in the field, as well as producers behind-the-scenes.
RECENT POSTS
- Anatomy Of A Rumor
- Car Czar?
- Sing It, Baby
- Hillary Clinton is Throwing a Party
- Karl Rove Has Figured Out Why Obama Won
- The Morning Meeting
- Ridiculously Low Mortgage Rates Might Only Get Better
- Gov. Rendell's Hot-Mic Mis-Hap on Napolitano
- Buy One Car, Get One Free
- Were The Heavens Smiling On Us?
- Quick -- Who's The President?
- Summarize Your Life in Six Words
WORLD NEWSER CATEGORIES
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Iraq’s Soccer Team Advances
July 25, 2007 4:35 PM
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.
July 25, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (1)
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/433071/20327572
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Iraq’s Soccer Team Advances:
Ssports can be a unifying and envigorating force for not only adults but also children -- especially when the parents give the kids a little breathing room. I wonder what Terry McCarthy would find over a period of time if children were left to play in Iraq among their natural competitors. I thought I had heard a report from a children's soccer game during a broadcast, but I can't find it on the ABC News website. It would be illuminating.
Posted by: Margaret Henry Pokusa | Jul 29, 2007 5:58:44 PM
Post a comment
