Iraq's footballers airlifted from Baghdad to Athens

Airlifted by the Australian air force, Iraq's journey to the last eight of the men's football tournament has been one of the feelgood stories of the Games.

Iraq's footballers had to be airlifted from Baghdad to Athens by the Australian air force to make the Olympics but on Saturday there'll be no room for sentiment when they face the Olyroos for a place in the semi-finals.

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Iraq's journey to the last eight of the men's football tournament has been one of the feelgood stories of a Games dominated by drug shocks and stayaway spectators.

A victory against an Australian side amidst the tight security of Heraklio on Crete will put them into the last four and closer to the country's first Olympics medal for 44 years.

Iraq and Australia have developed close ties since the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime helped by the contacts of their ex-coach Bernd Stange who used to be in charge of Perth Glory before heading to the Middle East.

The Iraqi national team prepared for the Games by touring Western Australia last year before the Australian Royal Air Force offered to fly the squad to Greece.

Now being guided by experienced coach Adnan Hamd, Iraq have already defied expectations by making the last eight beating the highly-fancied Portugal on the way and will be hoping to do the same to Frank Farina's side stripped of three first-teamers because of suspension.

Skipper Craig Moore, Tim Cahill and Ahmad Elrich are all ruled out of the clash of the match on Crete which will be played under more tight security.

"The security in Crete has been good since we arrived," said Farina.