A tired soccer team for Iraq cannot be accused of having high hopes to win against Saudi Arabia. Their Cinderella trip to the Asian Cup’s finale has captured the vision of soccer fans around the world and has given Iraquis things they have been lacking for a long time such as national pride and unity.



Following the Ancient Greeks when they used to put a hold on war while the Olympics where played, the Iraqis have a ray of hope that the violence may be halted while the Asian Cup matches are played. There is a ray of hope that for at least 90 minutes, the fighting stops and with it a brief relief.

Three victims died in Baghdad by falling bullets after Iraq's quarter-final victory over Vietnam and another 50 were killed by suicide bombers as thousands of soccer fans spilled onto the streets to celebrate their semi-final win over South Korea.

The bloodshed has not escaped the eyes of the Iraqi team, but they have managed to surmount the odds and conquer a peace that the politians have failed to get. This squad is conformed by Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish players, all of them together under the directions of a Brazilian coach, Jorvan Vieira.

They all work for the same goal, to win the Asian Cup and bring happiness to the Iraqi people, although it will not stop people from getting killed. All of this members of the Iraqi squad have been touched by the war. All of them have relatives or friends that have passed away victims of the conflicts. For some of them being able to compete in the Asian Cup, and getting this far it means a relief in their sorrow.