IRAQI SOCCER PLAYERS SOB at Homecoming Celebrations!

The Iraqi Soccer Team sobbed as they returned home as heroes!
The Iraqi people celebrated the return of their champions on Friday,
BBC VIDEO HERE.

Soccer fans carry Noor Sabri, a member of the Iraqi soccer team who won the AFC Asian Cup soccer tournament, upon the team's arrival in Baghdad airport August 3, 2007. Picture taken August 3, 2007. (REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani)

The Iraqi soccer players sobbed tears of joy as they returned to their country with the first place trophy from the Asian Games.
CNN reported:

"There is no happier moment," goalkeeper Noor Sabri told Iraqiya state television in the airport arrival lounge, choking back tears as other players behind him sobbed.

"I don't know what to say. All I can say is congratulations to the mothers of the martyrs," he said, paying tribute to victims of his country's sectarian strife.

Player Ali Rahima said: "We hope that this unity will not be only for football. We hope everybody will unite to bring happiness to the Iraqi people."

Hundreds of Iraqis managed to negotiate a series of security checkpoints in blistering summer heat to reach the airport in the hope of catching a glimpse of their heroes.

"People have been dancing and chanting and singing all day. We haven't gotten tired," a government employee who was at the airport told Reuters.

Fans spray foam as they wait in Baghdad airport, August 3, 2007, for the arrival of Iraq's soccer team who won the 2007 AFC Asian Cup soccer tournament. Photo taken August 3, 2007. (REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani)


Soccer fans use their mobile phones to take pictures of the Iraqi soccer team, who won the AFC Asian Cup soccer tournament, aboard a bus in the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad August 3, 2007. Weeping tears of joy and pride, Iraq's soccer champions arrived home on Friday to celebrate the Asian Cup victory that inspired their nation. (REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani)



Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (bottom 5th R) poses for a group picture with the Iraqi soccer team, who won the AFC Asian Cup soccer tournament, after their return to Iraq August 3, 2007. Picture taken August 3, 2007. (REUTERS)


Fans welcome Iraq's soccer team, who won the 2007 AFC Asian Cup soccer tournament, upon their arrival at Baghdad airport August 3, 2007. Weeping tears of joy and pride, Iraq's soccer champions arrived home on Friday to celebrate the Asian Cup victory that inspired their nation. (REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani)

NOTE: A couple of captions to the photos were cleaned of political commentary and the AP's sad political commentary on the event was not included in this posting.