Iraqi players on emotional rollercoaster

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KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 26 (AFP): The Iraqi team are on an emotional rollercoaster after reaching their first Asian Cup final as it took a bloody toll back home where at least 50 celebrating fans were killed.
Iraq shocked the more fancied South Korea 4-3 in a penalty shootout after it was scoreless after extra time Wednesday to put them on the brink of their greatest footballing achievement.
They had only got as far as the semi-finals in 1976 and lost in their last three consecutive quarter-finals at the Asian Cup, but now travel to Jakarta for an all-Arab final with Saudi Arabia Sunday.
"Everyone is happy and we have reason to be happy because this victory brings us to the final and we deserved that," said Iraq's Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira, who has been in charge for less than two months.
An emotional Vieira said the victory was for "the people of Iraq because they deserve it".
Thousands of Iraqis wearing team jerseys and waving national flags poured on to the streets of Baghdad cheering and firing assault rifles wildly into the air after the match to celebrate a rare moment of shared joy.
Two massive car bombs were detonated in the Iraqi capital by insurgents, killing at least 50 people and wounding 90.
Goalkeeper Noor Sabri was Iraq's hero, making a crucial save in the penalty shootout to steer his side into the final, and he dedicated his team's fighting spirit to his beleaguered compatriots in his war-ravaged homeland.
Noor illustrated the grim personal cost his teammates have endured to play at the Asian Cup and how they are doing their bit in lifting spirits for those suffering in the Iraq civil conflict.
It is testament to the players that they have got so far in the tournament with so little preparation amid the chaos in their homeland.
Vieira, who before the tournament said every person in the Iraqi team had lost family or friends in the ongoing conflict, had scant time to work with his players.
But he is well versed in Arab football with stints over 20 years in Morocco, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia, and has managed to mould a skillful and unified team.
Iraqi players dream of playing in Europe and the big salaries of the continent's club professionals, away from the perils of their war-torn country where their talents go unrewarded, and their run to the final could open doors.
Reports have already linked Nashat Akram with English Premier League side Sunderland.