Asian Cup Wednesday

shukatiti · Jul 24, 2007

Iraq vs South Korea...
I really think that South Korea has had a lot luck by their side to end up this far in the tournament. Iraq on a different note has been more convincing for me, although South Korea had to play Iran and Iraq had to play a weaker opponent (Vietnam) in the 1/4 finals, I just think Iraq has been playing better futbol all around. I think they deserve it a lot more than Korea does and I think they are going to show it on the field tomorrow..
Iraq Pk,+1/2: 1.02 units to win 1 unit

Japan vs Saudi Arabia...
Japan and Saudi Arabia have a bit of history in the Asian Cup, Japan being undefeated against them... I think Saudi Arabia knows that they are going to have to play a hard attacking game against Japan if they have a chance at winning, because playing defense is death, and Japan usually like to score goals on Saudi Arabia.. I see an open game here, and I like the over in it. Plus, the fact that every game for Japan played in the semifinals of the Asian Cup has gone over makes me feel a little better about it as well..
Over 2, 2.5 goals: 2 units to win 2.04

record: 0-2-0 -1.5 units

hm2.0 · Jul 25, 2007

Well, S. Korea won on pk's. Iraq has been the real surprise of the tourney and doesn't that country need somethin positive to occur, if only as a temp. diversion.

The closer... the logical choice is Japan but I would not be astonished if it is settled by the dreaded pk shootout. The Saudis have managed to do what they've needed to do and I give them a shot to qualify fo rthe final.

gl, shukatiti.

rhinooooo · Jul 25, 2007

Good luck shukatiti. I'm with you on Iraq. It would be great if they went all the way and won the tournament.

shukatiti · Jul 25, 2007

Thanks Rhino, congrats on Iraq, too bad they didn't take it in regulation time for the full win, but ill take the half..

rhinooooo · Jul 25, 2007

Great hits, especially with the over! It's not too bad with Iraq, just glad they got through.

hm2.0 · Jul 26, 2007

If only Iraq had done it in regulation.

Can they not celebrate w/o violence and death.

At least 50 dead in suicide car bombings

  Associated Press



  BAGHDAD -- Two suicide car bombings struck soccer fans in Baghdad as they were celebrating Iraq's victory in the Asian Cup semifinal on Wednesday, killing at least 50 people and wounding more than 136, officials said.
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</noscript>  </td></tr></tbody></table> The victims were among the thousands of revelers who took to the streets of the capital after the country's national soccer team beat South Korea to reach the tournament's final against Saudi Arabia on Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The first attack took place about 6:30 p.m. when a bomber exploded in a crowd of people cheering near a well-known ice cream parlor in Baghdad's western neighborhood of Mansour, according to police and hospital officials. At least 30 people were killed and 75 were wounded, an Interior Ministry official said.
Another suicide car bomber detonated his payload about 45 minutes later in the midst of dozens of vehicles filled with revelers near an Iraqi army checkpoint in the eastern district of Ghadeer, killing at least 20 people, including two soldiers, and wounding 61, according to the ministry official.
All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release information.
The second attack occurred as Iraqis of all ages were packed on top of cars, pickups and minibuses, waving Iraqi flags and shirts, while others danced in the streets near the checkpoint. Men put towels over their heads or sprayed cars with water for relief in the hot summer weather.
Thousands of fans also gathered in the central district of Karradah to celebrate, dancing, beating drums and chanting "Iraq, Iraq.'' Elsewhere in the city, traffic snarled as cars, Iraqi flags flying from their windows, moved slowly amid hundreds of fans. Motorists honked their horns.
The successful run in the Asian Cup has been a cause of much joy in this war-torn country, with Iraqis saying the mixed makeup of the team showed the country's rival ethnic and religious factions can unite despite years of sectarian violence.
Preliminary police reports said one person was also killed and 17 wounded by celebratory gunfire.
More than an hour after Iraqi goalkeeper Noor Sabri made the crucial save to win the match, gunfire could still be heard in many parts of the capital.
State television broadcast a warning from the Iraqi military urging residents not to engage in celebratory gunfire. But the warning appeared to have been ignored.
Five people were killed in the celebratory gunfire that followed Iraq's win over Vietnam in a quarterfinal match played in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sunday. But no other violence was reported in those celebrations.
Iraq and South Korea played to a scoreless draw through 90 minutes of regulation time and 30 minutes of extra time in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. But Iraq won a penalty shootout 4-3 to advance to Sunday's final in Jakarta.

shukatiti · Jul 26, 2007

man, thats horrible, even getting into a final of a major futbol competition can't keep hell from breaking lose in iraq, i just can't imagine whats in store after the final