It seems like being an Iraqi, lives in Iraq, means to be sentenced not to be a real participant not on the net or in a real competition and when we do involve in such games we look like idiots for our being desperate and hopless to win money, a trip or a lottery to get the hell out of here and feel safe for the short rest of our life, and you know what I am sick of complaining all the time just like Malcolm in the middle when people get bored of him everytime he blows his words and nobody listens to him. But I will try for the last  time I registered when I knew this is a competition to win a trip and get a seat in real huge stadium in Germany screaming Italia Italia Italia, but I need to be honest with you cause I never been convicted or violated a law though I live in place of NO RULES, where was I , yes. about being honest, if I really win that trip and arrived Germany, after the final match I will leave the stadium and ask for asylum from any Europian country, Sweden is nominated.
135637
You should start a blog and see if you can make money through the american press.  You could write about what life in Iraq is like.  Maybe eventually an American journalist could interview you and take you to a different country.
398391
Firstly I think that these former players are from the old school of football where playing for Country is a privilege and comes first and is not seen as something to be bargained with. I don't believe it's solely racially based as the same opinions and alleged penalties were also used to get Makelele to return to play for France against his wishes. These players did it harder and with far less options and advantages than players have today. Perhaps they feel they are somewhat spoiled by the financial side of the game now and the love of the sport and ones country is fast becoming secondary. Who knows. With that said, every player has to decide for themselves when their time to retire or to have a break is and as such risk the chance of losing their positions in National teams, which I am sure they have considered. It also depends I imagine on what "fine print" is written into their contracts in regards to their availability for National call up. We have constantly had comments like these made about Australian players in relation to people in authority questioning their commitment. You just have to get on with it and not take it all too personally when a former player or legend voices their thoughts.\n\nSecondly, as for the impostors, I agree with you, it has been an insane day on YA...lol\n\nEdit: it wasn't me who gave the thumbs down to the question...lol
418841
If you're point here is to show the dem's and the peace pansies that there's a reason our trips are still in the Iraqi theatre (read: area of operations, for you civies), it's a good one.  Funny how it's the same thing that the government has been saying that no one else wants to hear.  \n\nThe paradox with giving Saddam the death sentence is that on one side of things, justice will be done; and on the other, he will become a martyr.  One of the things the impatient American public needs to keep in mind is that in Iraq, there's little to no sense of what we consider to be nationality.  Usually you'll hear people say "I'm an American," or "I'm English/German/Italian/etc.," but there's really no sense of "I'm an Iraqi" in Iraq.  My husband is there right now and just made this observation to his parents this weekend.  They have grown up divided from each other by their background for generations, Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, with often radically different and conflicting views of the world and each other.  You can't take a society like that and turn it into one big happy family sitting around a camp fire singing Kumbaya in only a couple of years, especially when those couple years encompass the ousting of their former government and the introduction of democracy to people who may never have known anything else in their entire lives.  "Rome wasn't built in a day," and while I don't expect Iraq to rise to anything near the glory of the height of the Roman empire, it will nonetheless take some time for things to calm down and stabalize.  \n\nAs much as I loathe the fact that my husband is deployed there for the second time, I do agree that a premature pull-out of our troops would be detrimental to the work that we and the new Iraqi government have been doing since the day we stepped foot on the ground there.
619262
I really don't care what their favourite sports are or are not. That is their choice. They have the right to enjoy whatever sports they like just as the rest of us do. I'm not obsessed with America or it's people. There are good and bad everywhere. I do not see them as superior to me or my country in any way, shape or form. With that said I can see why others get annoyed sometimes. While there are many wonderful people there are also those that are surrealistic and cannot praise any other country or achievement or accept anything less than being dominant and it's a shame they give the majority a negative appearance. I was annoyed at their attitude to Australia in relation to qualifying. and not to unhappy that those responsible are eating their words or suffering from foot in mouth disease. Why can't we all just respect each other and our differences.
597624
Pancha,\n\nI have never agreed with a word you have said on this website, but I can answer this question for you. Don't listen that ***** enlightenment. That is the dumbest crock of sh*t I have ever heard. MOST vets will tell you that there time in the military was extremely rewarding and taught them many life skills. Everything I have in this world, I owe to the skills the Army taught me. The friends you make will be lifelong, and the bond you share will be unparalleled - especially if you deploy to Iraq with them.\n\nWe in the National Guard have a saying: If you haven't been to Iraq yet, you will be going soon. The figure is close to 75% of all National Guard members nationwide have been to Iraq. I am getting ready to go again in October.\n\nService in Iraq is not ANYTHING like the liberal media would have you believe. It is statistically the safest war the United States has ever deployed anyone to. With over 500,000 military members having gone and around 2400 have died, that means you have a 99.9942% chance of making it back to the United States alive. Pretty damn good odds in this soldiers book.\n\nWe are doing a lot of good things over there that you NEVER hear about.\n\n* The media would have you believe that everyday Iraqis don't want us there. Nothing could be further from the truth. They want us to finish the job and leave when it is done - not sooner.\n* The media would have you believe that Iraq is close to civil war. Again, this is untrue. The violence is merely painted in such a way as to give that illusion. Most Iraqis want peace and the opportunity to succeed - NOT civil war.\n* The media would have you believe there is a deadly "insurgency" in Iraq. By definition, an insurgency is filled with citizens of an occupied nation. Iraq is not occupied, and the "insurgents" are all from other countries. My unit was responsible for transporting prisoners last year and 95% of all detainees captured were from Saudi Arabia or Jordan or Syria or Egypt or Yemen or a host of other countries. Most speak English very well (a tip off right there that they are not Iraqi) and will tell you that most of the "insurgents" are foreign.\n\nDuty in Iraq is not bad, and most find it very rewarding. Many of the Guardsmen from my unit who just returned at the beginning of this year have volunteered to go back in October.\n\nHow soon after your Basic Combat Training (BCT or just Basic) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) might you go? Depends on your unit. If they have not gone to Iraq or not gone in a while, they may be going soon. It is also possible you could get assigned to go with another unit if they need your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS - your job). This is the absolute WORST scenario. You would rather go with people you know, people you trust with your life. So, I guess the answer is you might get tapped to go just weeks after you graduate Basic and AIT or you might never go.\n\nEither way, good luck.\n\nm1a1mikegolf - Actually, you are incorrect. EVERY enlistment is for eight years. If Pancha signs for three years, five years will be done in the IRR (Individual Ready Reserve). This means that while she is not actively drilling with the National Guard, she is still subject to recall. But, yes, she can do a three year enlistment and then leave the Guard.
586141
My wife tries to make the world cup a struggle of class against class (I thought that was a political struggle, not a sports struggle).  But she doesn't complain when her country wins (Brazil, not exactly a rich one).  So it seems a bit hypocritical.  I didn't see the Ivory Coast match, but from what I've seen in the past, African teams play rougher among themselves than non-African teams do and so when they have to play outside of Africa they get called for more fouls.
633849
First of all, even if you are genuinely from where you claim to be, even if English isn't your first language, Use the spell check feature that was so thoughtfully provided by Yahoo...  \n\nSecondly, as far as I know, we are currently in Afghanistan and Iraq, not Iran....(Do you know something that we don't? Seriously) \n\nThirdly, I assume you mean 'who are they kidding?' and 'who/what kind of people would vote for this?'  That in itself is a flawed premise. American citizens no more voted to go into Afghanistan or Iraq any more than the citizens of those countries decided to set in motion the events of 9-11.  (Also it's a Representative republic, not a democracy....)  \n\nPart of that is allowing people with opposing(if misinformed) viewpoints to speak their minds.  However, while there is 'freedom of speech' here, and I applaud your using that right, there are those Americans who have nothing better to do with their 'freedom' and spend their spare time posting similar comments  to a website such as this and portray themselves as something other than what they truly are.  \n\nI mean no offense, and if such is not the case, you have my deepest apologies...
258006
I had never heard about this but after a while thinking it over, I find it is coherent with other humanitarian attitudes we wont even consider not doing. Even at war times, captured soldiers are given food, water and shelter. If an enemy ship is sunk you'd expect the crew to be offered help. The worst criminals are treated with dignity under the legal system - including that terrorist on trial. We go as far as having animal rights. So, no matter your take on the subject of illegal immigration, moral and ethical people can not be against this.
660845
Finally some people do agree with me that they are a buch of actors!! They should be auditioning roles in Hollywood and not playing football, and I bet they will all the roles they audition fro\n\nSUCH DRAMA!!!!! WHINING BABIES!!! They even complain when they are at fault!! Was in Italy last summer and my aunty told me about how Italians exagurate on trivail things.Of course I did not believe her and even defended the Italians but watching all their matches just makes me want to throw up!! \n\nThey lack technical skills on the pitch with makes football beautiful to watch ant yet they complian till you want to reach into the TV and give them some strokes on their backs.......for delaying the game and destroying its exictement!!\n\nI totally agree with you,their behaviour is sooo shamefull. A BUCH OF DRAMA KINGS or is it BOYS?? Better still crying babies.Maybe they miss thier wifes or better still their MUMs!!
674787
It is a way of celebrating goals after his son was born. He used to do it also in Rome during the italian league games.\nAnyhow people, you guys were playing with 11 vs. 10 and didn't shoot once on goal. The attitude of Mr. Hiddink was alike to the italian in former world cup. He was waiting for the overtime....big mistake. (Plus, late entrance of Aloisi) If you only think that an italian defender entered the penalty area dribbling everyone on his side i guess that the italian team was the only one looking for the victory. Sad but true.\nThe penalty was quite dubious i admit but australia didn't do much during the whole game. Control of the ball doesn't mean control of the game.\nAnyways, congratulations for the amazing game and see you at the next world cup.\nCiao.
203033
They are arrogant cockneys mate. You will never change that. Cocky as hell when they are winning, cry like babies when they lose. They cant mix it with Europe's elite though, can they? What did TV say about Rooney, I saw what happened but couldnt hear anything - how serious is it?
279413
i completely agree.We should be helping our own countries first.They dont appreciate it in Iraq anyway.We have too many homeless on the streets,abused children and drug addicts that need our attention a lot more.And whilst we are in Iraq we are getting all their refugees and asylum seekers over here.Which if they really are in desperate and appreciative i would give my support, but majority come here take our jobs,get more in support and money,more then the homeless of this country already,and what really adds the cream,protest how Britain is going to hell and how we should be killed and tortured!!!In our own country,and thesae people come to us for refuge!!!!We are all too quick to sort out the countries around us but avoid the issues at home.
489991
I disagree cause i'm a football fan and live in S.A! Come to think of it S.A. held the 1995 rugby world cup and the 2003 Cricket world and it wasn't a disaster, i don't see why we shouldn't be given a chance! I dont see why foreigners make S.A look as if its a war zone!
143005
I'm in Iraq right now. Me being on here should give you an idea of what I'M doing...nothing. What's it like? HOT! Alot of people do have it pretty rough over here though, but I wouldn't say the majority have it all that bad. It just sucks being away from home for so long. I don't think it's really getting better. They're gonna fight us as long as we're here.
629717
Well said!\nThat is called obstruction!\nWhen a player commit obstruction inside the penalty box, the opponent team is awarded with a penalty kick. Pure and simple. But only who knows a little about soccer can see that: all the other incompetents are just biased and have not idea of what they are talking about! They continue with this BS about "unfair and deserve" while if they really have watched the game, they could have noticed that who really deserved to win the game was Italy. In fact, even tough Australia had greater ball-possession (due to 5 midfielders versus 3 from Italy and due to the 2nd half with an extra-man - btw red card not legitimate) Italy hag greater chances of scoring goals.\nWell, maybe we are wasting our time to talk to those incompetents...
428302
sounds like terrorism to me.   How could you want to declare war on your own country-if you don't like it emigrate!
571448
one would think it is an honour to play for your country, but for some, especially in poorer nations, playing means leaving your family and job, and not getting paid while you and your family depend on that money to buy food...\n\nas for the americans, it seems rather clear they dont give a damn!