Winning Iraqi team rare cause for joy

Iraq's unexpected progress in the Olympic soccer competition has given Iraqis a rare distraction from the bullets.

When Iraq's Olympic soccer side beat Costa Rica nine days ago en route to their semi-final clash with Paraguay later on Tuesday, Hussein Allawi jumped so high with joy he cut his hand in the ceiling fan.

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"You can feel the enthusiasm," said Allawi, proudly pointing at the cut. "We need more joy to help ease our worries," said the 30-year-old, whose shop in Baghdad was rocked by a car bomb a few weeks ago.

Iraq's unexpected progress in the Olympic soccer competition has given Iraqis a rare distraction from the bullets and bombs that cast a shadow over their lives.

Baghdad coffee shop owner Qasem Abd has bought extra supplies of soft drinks in anticipation of a full house for Tuesday's match. God willing, the place won't be big enough," he said.

His cafe was packed when Iraq beat Australia 1-0 to reach the semi-final. "It's been a long time since I've seen that kind of atmosphere," he said. The victory was greeted by celebratory gunfire that lit up the Baghdad skyline.

"You can't describe it. It's as if all the problems were over, even if only for an hour," Abd said. "It's a temporary joy. At any moment a shell could fall on us and kill us."

His patrons, who usually puff water pipes while chatting or watching television, have no time for smoking when the Iraqi soccer team is on the field. "They feel as if they are playing," he said.