The streets of Iraq were quiet for 90 minutes as the soccer team played in the Asian Games final, hoping for gold. People were anticipating victory, as a united nation, but the simmering ‘sectarian’ tension remained…
“I urge the people not to shoot in celebration of the victory of the Iraqi team,” Sheik Abdul Hadi Mohammedawi told worshippers in Sadr City hours before the game began. “It squanders ammunition.”
For the record, Iraq lost 1-0 to Qatar.
there was an article in national geographic entitled “Why the world loves soccer”… I still don’t know, b/c i didn’t read the article and (sorry) i’m not a sports fan…
…Which is why i understand even less why people would stop for a game of soccer. But if that’s the case, maybe the Iraqi soccer team should just play other countries nonstop with rotating replacements
haven’t read the article, but i think the basic reason is that it’s so easy to play – no need for special equipment, just a ball and a place to kick it in. I’d struggle to name another sport which is that straightforward =)
But that is a good idea… hmm :)