Ewan McKenna: No-win situation for Syria, on or off the pitch

The irreconcilable political divisions in Syria are reflected in the country’s national football team

Keisuke Honda of Japan has his shot at goal blocked by Nadim Sabag of Syria during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Group E qualifying match recently

It was in December 2012, after their defeat of Iraq in the final of the West Asian Championships, that football offered an unusual insight into both the present reality and the future. “I give this win and this worthy title to the Syrian people,” striker Omar al-Soma said after the match. “I thank God that we succeeded in bringing happiness to the sad people.”

He meant well, but it was all just inadvertent ...