Iraqis thrash U.S. Marines in soccer match

Reuters Via CNN ^ | 04/29/2003

[Phlap]

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) -- U.S. Marines may consider themselves an elite fighting force, but they were no match for an Iraqi soccer side who thrashed them 7-0 in the southern town of Najaf.

The Najaf Poets devastated a side drawn from 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, their yellow jerseys flashing past Americans who took to the field in combat boots and camouflaged trousers.

[Guillermo]

Yet another example of failed Bush policy. Quagmire alert.

We need an operational pause.

[MP5]

This is part of the "win the hearts of the people." We just showed our military might, let them win a game of soccer.

[bray]

There is nothing wrong with soccer. Outside the US its the the biggest sport in the world and given enough time and promotion it could be here as well. And yes, I love baseball, the flag and apple pie. No flames please.

Is soccer a sport??? Was Bagdad Bob keeping score??

Pray for GW and Our Troops

[E Rocc]

Time to whip out the footballs (NFL Style!)

The Secret of American Foreign Affairs (football...real "football")

-Eric

[RightOnline]

A friendly little pickup game........and the locals SHOULD have won. :)

I'm sure this little game did more to humanize the GI's than any of their other (considerable) efforts with the local citizenry to date. Good stuff, all in fun.

[george wythe]

I think that reason soccer is so popular overseas, especially in poor countries, is because the convenience of setting up a game with limited resources.

Besides a soccer ball, not much else is needed.

A couple of 2x4s can act as a goal posts, and young legs can burn a lot of energy in urban settings with nothing else to do.

[jlogajan]

"Americans who took to the field in combat boots"
Combat boots may have been a hinderance.

"You didn't expect me to go into combat with loose change in my pocket!"

[FeliciaCat]

I wouldnt exactly call the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Western Europe "poor countries" and soccer (or "football") is #1 sport.

[BrooklynGOP]

Yea, now let them try basketball.

[redhead]

"Time to whip out the footballs (NFL Style!)"

And then, time to teach the kids how to play baseball.

[baseballfanjm]

Don't worry, I love soccer. I love the all-american sports of baseball and football more, but the fact that the wait between World Cups is four years kills me. At least the Super Bowl and World Series are every year.

[k2blader]

Flames?

Compared to baseball, soccer is by far the better sport.

;-)

[FeliciaCat]

Whew! Finally you showed up! I was beginning to feel out numbered here....and I'm not even a valid fan! (just appreciate a fast moving game that has men with good legs!)

[Steve_Seattle]

I can't believe that some of the people on this thread seem bothered that the soldiers lost a pick-up soccer game, as if this loss threatens the Republic.

[WhiskeyPapa]

Hey, there are some SERIOUS hotties in soccer (and hockey)....;)

Well, that is mitigation of a sort. ;-)

Walt

[Stopislamnow]

UK, NZ, and Aussies have my utmost respect.

They have, bar none, the baddest, meanest, most fun game on earth(behind hockey, although its getting wussy).

RUGBY. A game for men, played by men.

[george wythe]

Maybe I did not make myself clear on my post.

I know that soccer is popular in Western Europe and Australia, but I was highlighting the reason for its popularity in most of the world, especially poor countries.

For instance, while staying overseas, I have taught Latin American children to play American football, and the kids loved the game. Nevertheless, they ended up playing soccer most of the time because they lacked access to the football logistics necessary to organize school and neighborhood teams.

Most of those kids still follow American football on satellite TV and occasionally send me letters thanking me for teaching them football.

[sd-joe]

Beautiful.

[egarvue]

I agree; I used to not like soccer until I got forced into assistant coaching the soccer team for the little parochial high school I used to teach at. Now I understand the strategies and tactics of the game, and enjoy the game much more. I am really sick of the inter-sport bashing that goes on - all sports are so different from each other and require mastery of different skill sets that no one could honestly say one sport is "better" than another.

[FeliciaCat]

I understand your point now, thanks.