For decades, the Iraqi team had to fight for respect in a continent they once dominated. Sanctions, a homicidal Olympic Committee, and complete disregard for their status as athletes and messengers of peace by the international committee spelled difficult times for Iraqi soccer. But through players’ determination, in a fight that transcended beyond the football pitch, Iraqi squads in all age groups have contended for all major continental and regional competitions. With wins in the Asian Youth Cup and the West Asian Football Federation tournament, the Green Machine is once again a force to be reckoned with in the world’s largest federation. In 2004 alone, Iraqis have managed to hobble past the destruction of war and make great strides in many competitions, most notably Asia’s qualifying tournament for the 2004 Olympic Summer Games.

In fact, when Iraq started their qualification campaign over two months ago, they were touted as one of the favorites to book a ticket to this summer’s Olympic footballing festival in Athens. Coming off a convincing win at the Abha friendly tournament in Saudi Arabia and having its players shine with ACL (Arabian Champions League) contenders Al Talaba (click here), Iraq’s Olympic team was set to regain its place atop the Asian football hierarchy. Not only did the team boast stars from regional leagues, but it proved to be a breeding ground for an ocean of upcoming talent. After giving out a thrashing to the Omanis in Iraq’s first game, the young group of players seemed to be the most likely of the bunch to head to Greece. But things changed very quickly.

The turbulence on Iraq’s voyage to the tournament started to shake the hopes of the team to qualify during a heartbreaking loss to the Saudis. Despite controlling most of the match, Nashat Akram couldn’t convert a penalty kick, and handed the Saudis a win that they truly didn’t deserve. Following that defeat, a bitter regional rivalry provided enough of an adrenalin boost to a demoralized squad and saw Iraq easily handle Kuwait in a two goal victory. The victory, however, didn’t seem to materialize into anything beyond the pride of laying claim to the Iraq-Kuwait derby. Two successive losses at the hands of a surging Omani squad and a revolutionized Kuwaiti team left the Iraqis in a haze.

The players looked confused and uninspired. The two losses painted a gloomy picture for Iraq’s Olympic ambitions. The only two possible outs that the Iraqis could perceive in their predicament were that the Saudis, forerunners and leading contenders in the group, suffer upsets and that Iraq’s four goals stand up for something in the case where goals count more than points. And, in true Olympic fashion, both those bets came through for the thirsty soccer nation. A Omani-Saudi tie and a Kuwaiti upset win over the Saudis put the group in a tight knot, with all four teams having the chance to qualify, even Iraq.

On a day where the fate of the four teams were to be known, the Iraqis were in a must win game against a resilient, but shaken, Saudi squad. But even a victory could be worthless without a tie between the top two teams in the group, Kuwait in Oman.

In a match that could be considered the most important in Iraq’s Olympic history, having qualified thrice in the eighties, three goals were manufactured by the Olympians on that day. A 3-1 Iraqi victory over the Saudis ensured that Iraq had done its part in a situation where their chances of qualifying were slim to none. But in a miracle personally arranged by the Gods of Mt. Olympus, Oman managed to keep the Kuwaitis at bay with only ten men to end their game in a tie.

On goal difference, mainly attributed by Iraq’s super hat-trick thrashing of Oman, the Iraqi Olympic squad successfully completed its qualification requirements, finished first in their group, and booked their berth for the Men’s Olympic Tournament set to be staged in Athens, Greece this upcoming August.

Seconds later, celebratory gunfire, smiles, and warm souls lit up the darkness of Baghdad. Iraq was well on its way to conquering Athens.