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
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 ...