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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iraqis hoping for football glory | Iraqis hoping for football glory |
| (6 days later) | |
| Iraq have a morale-boosting chance of a gold medal at the Asian Games, when the national football squad faces the hosts Qatar in the final on Friday. | Iraq have a morale-boosting chance of a gold medal at the Asian Games, when the national football squad faces the hosts Qatar in the final on Friday. |
| Celebratory gunfire rang out in the capital, Baghdad, when Iraq beat South Korea in Wednesday's semi-final. | Celebratory gunfire rang out in the capital, Baghdad, when Iraq beat South Korea in Wednesday's semi-final. |
| It had been a day of bloody violence. Hours earlier at least 70 people died in a city-centre bombing. | It had been a day of bloody violence. Hours earlier at least 70 people died in a city-centre bombing. |
| "We will do our best to win the gold medal and dedicate it to every Iraqi," said goalkeeper Muhammad Khadum. | "We will do our best to win the gold medal and dedicate it to every Iraqi," said goalkeeper Muhammad Khadum. |
| Iraq's 1-0 victory over the strong Korean side was clinched with a 24th-minute header by Samir Mujbel. | Iraq's 1-0 victory over the strong Korean side was clinched with a 24th-minute header by Samir Mujbel. |
| The young team - 90% of them are under 21 - have to endure some of the toughest conditions in world sport to train and play competitive matches. | The young team - 90% of them are under 21 - have to endure some of the toughest conditions in world sport to train and play competitive matches. |
| Death threats | Death threats |
| "Security is an issue," said coach Yahya Manhel, who takes his players back and forth to Jordan - along some of Iraq's most dangerous roads. | "Security is an issue," said coach Yahya Manhel, who takes his players back and forth to Jordan - along some of Iraq's most dangerous roads. |
| Three of his predecessors have resigned because of death threats, in a country gripped by a rampant anti-US insurgency and deadly sectarian strife. | Three of his predecessors have resigned because of death threats, in a country gripped by a rampant anti-US insurgency and deadly sectarian strife. |
| In the 2004 Olympics, Iraq enjoyed a spectacular run of success in the football competition, but just missed out on the bronze medal, losing to Italy in the third-place play-off. | In the 2004 Olympics, Iraq enjoyed a spectacular run of success in the football competition, but just missed out on the bronze medal, losing to Italy in the third-place play-off. |
| Iraq is participating in the Asian Games for the first time in 20 years. Its footballers had to pre-qualify and have played eight matches in the last three weeks. | |
| Qatar beat another country at the centre of controversy - defending champions Iran - to reach the final. | Qatar beat another country at the centre of controversy - defending champions Iran - to reach the final. |
| A Fifa-imposed ban on Iran was lifted on the eve of the championship, but they lost 2-0 to the hosts in the other semi-final. | A Fifa-imposed ban on Iran was lifted on the eve of the championship, but they lost 2-0 to the hosts in the other semi-final. |