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| Why the Syrian World Cup miracle isn't the heartwarming story it's presented as | Why the Syrian World Cup miracle isn't the heartwarming story it's presented as |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Syrian striker Omar Al Somah stunned his teammates and supporters by managing to score an equalising goal in Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Australia, keeping his country’s hopes of its first ever World Cup alive. | Syrian striker Omar Al Somah stunned his teammates and supporters by managing to score an equalising goal in Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Australia, keeping his country’s hopes of its first ever World Cup alive. |
| The late penalty means the two teams will meet again next week for a second leg with the tie perfectly poised. | |
| Somah’s achievement came after a similarly astonishing penalty in the 93rd minute of Syria’s previous game, against regional football heavyweight Iran, which meant the game ended in a 2-2 draw. | Somah’s achievement came after a similarly astonishing penalty in the 93rd minute of Syria’s previous game, against regional football heavyweight Iran, which meant the game ended in a 2-2 draw. |
| In regime and rebel-held parts of the country alike, the underdog win over clear favourites Australia was met with frantic celebration - as well as in refugee camps around the region and by the Syrian diaspora further afield. | In regime and rebel-held parts of the country alike, the underdog win over clear favourites Australia was met with frantic celebration - as well as in refugee camps around the region and by the Syrian diaspora further afield. |
| For many, however, the euphoria is dampened by how Syria’s civil war, now in its seventh year, has ripped apart the country’s social fabric. | For many, however, the euphoria is dampened by how Syria’s civil war, now in its seventh year, has ripped apart the country’s social fabric. |
| Syria’s athletes have been drawn or forced into taking sides since Arab Spring protests began in 2011. | Syria’s athletes have been drawn or forced into taking sides since Arab Spring protests began in 2011. |
| More than 100 professional footballers have been disappeared by regime forces over the last six years, subject to torture and other brutal treatment in some of the most notorious of President Bashar al-Assad’s prisons. | More than 100 professional footballers have been disappeared by regime forces over the last six years, subject to torture and other brutal treatment in some of the most notorious of President Bashar al-Assad’s prisons. |
| At least three have been confirmed dead, their mutilated and starved bodies identified in the famous 2014 images leaked from Sadnaya prison outside Damascus and other military facilities, including the former captain of the national team, Jihad Qassab. | At least three have been confirmed dead, their mutilated and starved bodies identified in the famous 2014 images leaked from Sadnaya prison outside Damascus and other military facilities, including the former captain of the national team, Jihad Qassab. |
| Zakaria Youssef, who played for al-Ittihad FC, was killed in government shelling in a neighbourhood of Aleppo in 2012. | Zakaria Youssef, who played for al-Ittihad FC, was killed in government shelling in a neighbourhood of Aleppo in 2012. |
| Some have fled as refugees, and now live in UN tents in sprawling camps. Others have been luckier: exiled from their home, they have found new careers playing for clubs abroad. | Some have fled as refugees, and now live in UN tents in sprawling camps. Others have been luckier: exiled from their home, they have found new careers playing for clubs abroad. |
| Two have wrestled with their conscience to come back and play for the team, but it has come at a high personal price. | Two have wrestled with their conscience to come back and play for the team, but it has come at a high personal price. |
| Firas al-Khatib, now Syria’s captain after five years playing in Kuwait, has lost friends after his perceived betrayal of the revolution and endorsement of a government that starved and bombed his home town. | Firas al-Khatib, now Syria’s captain after five years playing in Kuwait, has lost friends after his perceived betrayal of the revolution and endorsement of a government that starved and bombed his home town. |
| “Now, in Syria, [there are] many killers, not just one or two,” he told ESPN in English, shortly before deciding to return, speaking of his fears the Syrian opposition has splintered into al-Qaeda-linked extremist factions. | “Now, in Syria, [there are] many killers, not just one or two,” he told ESPN in English, shortly before deciding to return, speaking of his fears the Syrian opposition has splintered into al-Qaeda-linked extremist factions. |
| “Whatever happen, 12 million Syrians will love me. Other 12 million will want to kill me.” | “Whatever happen, 12 million Syrians will love me. Other 12 million will want to kill me.” |
| Sport can be an opportunity to forget war and politics. Football is “a dream that brings people together. It gives people a smile and helps them forget the smell of destruction and death,” Bashar Mohammad, the Syrian national team's spokesperson, said recently. | Sport can be an opportunity to forget war and politics. Football is “a dream that brings people together. It gives people a smile and helps them forget the smell of destruction and death,” Bashar Mohammad, the Syrian national team's spokesperson, said recently. |
| Critics say those who play for Assad's Syria - or even watch a game - are tacit supporters of a whitewashing campaign designed to hide the regime's crimes against civilians in a war which has killed almost 500,000 people. | Critics say those who play for Assad's Syria - or even watch a game - are tacit supporters of a whitewashing campaign designed to hide the regime's crimes against civilians in a war which has killed almost 500,000 people. |
| “The road to Sydney has been paved with too much blood to ignore,” journalist Oz Katerji wrote on Twitter. | “The road to Sydney has been paved with too much blood to ignore,” journalist Oz Katerji wrote on Twitter. |
| “An equaliser against Australia is noteworthy, but it will never erase the cold-blooded extermination of professional athletes in Syria.” | “An equaliser against Australia is noteworthy, but it will never erase the cold-blooded extermination of professional athletes in Syria.” |