This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6929816.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Iraq celebrates football victory | Iraq celebrates football victory |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Members of Iraq's national football team have arrived back in Baghdad, almost a week after their unexpected victory in the Asian Cup in Indonesia. | Members of Iraq's national football team have arrived back in Baghdad, almost a week after their unexpected victory in the Asian Cup in Indonesia. |
| The government hosted an emotional welcome-home reception for the players in the heavily fortified Green Zone. | |
| However, several of the team were absent, including the captain, Younis Mahmoud, who said he feared for his life if he returned to celebrate. | |
| The team's victories in the Asian Cup sparked wild celebrations across Iraq. | The team's victories in the Asian Cup sparked wild celebrations across Iraq. |
| Dedication | |
| Correspondents say the victory has temporarily united the divided country. The team includes Sunni and Shia Muslims, as well as Kurds. | |
| But the celebrations were overshadowed when bombers targeted crowds celebrating victory in the semi-final over former winners South Korea, killing 50 people. | |
| In pictures: Football fever | In pictures: Football fever |
| At the Green Zone reception, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki told the players: "I say to our team, the Lions of Mesopotamia, you have put smiles on the faces of Iraqis, after the terrorists wanted to wipe the joy from the faces of children and the innocent with their crimes." | |
| He added: "When they competed with others, none of them considered themselves as belonging to any groups or to any ethnicity, denomination or religion. | |
| "They belonged only to Iraq, and their only concern was the victory of Iraq." | |
| The players dedicated their victory to a mother whose 12-year-old son was killed in one of the bomb attacks on those celebrating the semi-final win. At the reception, the players passed the trophy to her to hold. | |
| "We come to Baghdad with great joy. It was a huge victory. We would like to present this cup as a gift to the Iraqi people and to the woman who lost her son in the terrorist attack," said a tearful Ali Abbas, one of the substitutes. | |
| Job offers | Job offers |
| Iraq beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in Sunday's final, a victory marked by celebratory gunfire in Baghdad. | |
| Their wins, which included victory over tournament favourites Australia, surprised the football world. | |
| After clinching victory in the final with a late header, skipper Mahmoud, a Sunni Arab, told reporters in Jakarta: "I wish I could go back to Baghdad to celebrate, but who will secure my life? | After clinching victory in the final with a late header, skipper Mahmoud, a Sunni Arab, told reporters in Jakarta: "I wish I could go back to Baghdad to celebrate, but who will secure my life? |
| "In Iraq you do not know who will kill you... I wish the Americans hadn't invaded Iraq and I hope we will get rid of them very soon." | "In Iraq you do not know who will kill you... I wish the Americans hadn't invaded Iraq and I hope we will get rid of them very soon." |
| The team's Brazilian coach, Jorvan Viera, was another absentee, after completing his contract. | The team's Brazilian coach, Jorvan Viera, was another absentee, after completing his contract. |
| He is reported to be holidaying in Morocco and considering several job offers after steering Iraq to the surprise victory. | He is reported to be holidaying in Morocco and considering several job offers after steering Iraq to the surprise victory. |