Iraq seek fairytale ending after nightmare start

By Martin Petty

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Iraq's beleaguered soccer team are pinning their hopes on a fairytale ending to their Asian Cup story after logistical blunders and slapdash preparations plunged their campaign into disarray even before a ball had been kicked.

Against all odds, the unfancied Iraqis beat twice-champions South Korea 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout on Wednesday to reach their first Asian Cup final, bringing some rare cheer to the war-scarred Iraqi people.

The team's Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira, who has worked with 26 clubs and five national teams, says his short-term job with Iraq has been the toughest of his career.

"Everything has gone wrong -- hotels, food, equipment, players, training, logistics. You cannot imagine what we have been through," Vieira told Reuters in a telephone interview on Thursday.

"Because of this, no one expected us to be where we are. What we have done has totally shocked people."

Vieira had only two months to prepare the squad in the safety of neighbouring Jordan, but when stubborn Baghdad clubs refused to release players, his first training sessions were attended by only six people.

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