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Iraq's Soccer Win Can't Escape Sectarianism

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August 3, 2007

As violence continues in Baghdad, electricity is strained and now there are widespread water shortages, with some residents reportedly going six days without running water — in 120-degree heat.

But people in Baghdad celebrated Friday – as the Lions of Mesopotamia, the national soccer team, returned home after unexpectedly clinching the Asia Cup on Sunday.

But several players did not make the trip home, including the team's captain and the player whose header clinched the title. Both are Sunnis, and said they feared for their lives if they returned.

 
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