The Asian Cup Final is set: Saudi Arabia v Iraq
Somehow I don’t think this is what the Asian Cup tournament organizers had in mind. In a competition that featured Australia, South Korea and Japan in the field, Saudi Arabia and Iraq have emerged as the finalists.
The fact that Saudi Arabia will be playing for the trophy is only a mild surprise. The country will be playing in their sixth final in the last seven Asian Cup tournaments. Saudi Arabia has also become a regular in the World Cup. Nevertheless, it is surprising how they reached the final. They beat the tournament holders Japan, a country they had never defeated at the Asian Cup, and they did so in style with a thrilling 3-2 victory.
Not many people gave Iraq much of a chance heading into the competition. The country is a mess and its football team has hardly had success at the Asian Cup or elsewhere. But this year’s squad features some excellent young talent and a knack for getting the job done. It came down to penalties against South Korea and Iraq’s keeper Noor Sabri sent the country into a frenzy when he saved the fourth spot kick to clinch the victory.
An all-Arab final featuring two teams that are devoid of big-name players. A few weeks ago that would have sounded like a disaster, but now it sounds like a tournament final that will be fun to watch.
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Comments
By USA | July 26th, 2007 at 9:18 am 
Only four years or so after U.S. liberated Iraq they make the finals.
God Bless the United States of America.
By Darth | July 26th, 2007 at 5:07 pm Well, what can I say. The Iraqi, like most of the arabs, are nationalists. It’s an admirable quality for any person, as long as it doesen’t go out of control. I haven’t watched this tournament, but this news put a smile on my face, well done Iraq! You deserved it, after all the crap your country went through!
@usa:I’m not going to reply to your post, as much as my fingers itch to demolish your words, as I don’t want to start with endless talks about external politics
Anyways, congrats Iraq!
By Donivon | July 27th, 2007 at 8:08 am Congrats to the Iraqis! I’ve watched a bit of their play, there was an excellent documentary about their team called Football in the front lines a year or so ago.
These guys are skilled, most of them are playing in the UAE league.
Posted from 
United States
By AJ | July 27th, 2007 at 12:56 pm USA guy who posted first- stfu. Don’t bring politics into this you moron.
If Iraq manage to beat Saudi Arabia, then they will be at the 09 Confederations Cup…wow who would have thought that!
Posted from 
Canada
By USA | July 27th, 2007 at 1:56 pm AJ you keep quiet, little canadian Hoser.
By Dave Hamilton | July 29th, 2007 at 9:55 am Well, Saudi Arabia is devoid of a superstar name, but Yasser Al Qahtani has been a solid player for some time. I look for him to take charge and Saudis win 1-0, but what Iraq has done under the circumstances is amzing.
Posted from United States
By Dave Hamilton | July 29th, 2007 at 9:55 am Well, Saudi Arabia is devoid of a superstar name, but Yasser Al Qahtani has been a solid player for some time. I look for him to take charge and Saudis win 1-0, but what Iraq has done under the circumstances is amzing.
Posted from United States
By zohreh | July 29th, 2007 at 1:52 pm I’m very happy 4 the Iraqiz in my opinion football is a miracle. it makes u happy and it brings ur tears down .today it made me happy and made me cry but not those cry that comes in sadness ,I was happy not 4 myself not 4 my country but 4 the people of Iraq .this football did something that the politics couldn’t do it returned joy and dance back in the st of Iraq after those bad things that happens every day, and most important of all it brought United Iraq
Posted from 
Islamic Republic Of Iran
By The World Cup Blog A-Z of 2007, Part One - World Cup Blog | December 31st, 2007 at 1:07 pm [...] was until they met Iraq, who beat Graham Arnold’s team and everyone else on their way to a heroic Asian Cup victory. More fancied, but equally victorious were Invincibles of Inter Milan who won 17 straight games on [...]
Posted from United States
By mike | January 1st, 2008 at 1:01 am im iraqi and u can only imagine the happiness im feeling right now after all thats happened we still can unite and win .p.s saudi arabia has never bet iraq without cheating
Posted from United States
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