Soccer: Chaos at Home, Harmony on Field

After Greece's victory in the European Championship this year, Cinderella stories were becoming the norm in soccer. But nobody could have predicted the fairy tale unfolding in Olympic soccer. The valiant Iraq team kept up its march to fame last weekend, defeating Australia 1-0 to reach the semifinals. "It's very important for the players, for the Iraqi people. After or before a match, they think only of the problems. Then for two hours they can forget," said captain Abdul Wahab Abu Al Hail. Some of the team's players come from trouble spots like Najaf. Ahmed Manajid, who says his cousin died in Fallujah fighting, declares that if he were not playing ball, he would be part of the resistance. The team's defiance hasn't stopped President Bush from using its success as campaign fodder. The players' response has been blunt; they are happy to be free to play but unimpressed by Bush's taking credit. Asked what he would like to say to Bush's daughters, who were in Athens for the Games, Al Hail had a simple message: "Get your troops away from my country." --By Jennie James/Patras