Soccer Watch

You may have read about Iraq unexpectedly qualifying for the Athens Olympics last week; it's one of the few feel-good stories to come out of there recently. Perhaps you even read that Paul Bremer was on hand at a later celebration to congratulate the Iraqi heroes, and proclaim that "Iraq is back." What hasn't been reported in the U.S. press, as far as I can tell, is that, before Bremer dropped into the stadium in a Black Hawk helicopter with a heavily armed escort, the U.S.-led coalition had ignored repeated requests for aid in putting the team back together, after tearing it apart in the war.

In England with his team this week to raise money and play exhibition matches, national team coach Bernd Stange said: "It is disappointing for me because they missed a big chance to win the hearts of the Iraqis. Soccer is a very important part of their life. They are mad for soccer."

"After the war there was nothing left in Iraq – absolutely nothing," Stange told the AP. "Iraqi football had to start from zero: no soccer balls, no pitches, no nets, no goalposts ... no water for a shower. Nothing." But Stange said he got little help, despite letters to Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George Bush. He added that Blair eventually invited him to lunch this week, but that he has never gotten any response from Bush. "Absolutely nothing."

Missing both their top scorer and first string goalie for last week's road trip, the Austin Lightning got pounded twice (6-0 and 4-1) by the El Paso Patriots, one of the top teams in the PDL. They look to bounce back this weekend at home against the Laredo Heat. Saturday, 7:30pm at House Park, 15th & Lamar.

As the European season draws to a close, the big news this past week was that Arsenal finished undefeated in the English Premier League, the first time that's been done since the league's inaugural season in 1888-89. Meanwhile, Lyon wrapped up the French title, and as we go to press, Valencia has just won the UEFA Cup final, 2-0, over Marseille, adding that international title to their Spanish League championship.

The last major piece of hardware to be decided is the biggest: The Champions League title match between Porto and Monaco is next Wednesday, May 26 – live on ESPN2, starting at 1:30pm.