McClatchy Newspapers
By Mike Tharp

An American soldier wears the team’s T-shirt to its “fallen heroes” during a soccer match in Iraq.

A soccer game on a dirt field between two amateur teams_ one U.S. Army soldiers, one local Iraqis — may not seem like a big deal in the scope of the wider war.

But the recent match between members of the 87th Infantry’s 1st battalion and several young men from the Sons of Iraq meant much more than the 9-0 score.

For one thing, it was the third time in recent days when American soldiers donned shorts and “Salute to Our Fallen Heroes” T-shirts to go head-to-head and foot-to-foot with teams of opponents who, only months ago, may have been trying to kill them.

For another, the soldiers were playing without body armor — a sign of improved security in the sandy Hawijah District patrolled by units of the 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum, N.Y.

Before the soccer game, both the American and Iraqi national anthems were played. At halftime, Hertling stood with the mayor and handed out soccer jerseys, pants and sweats to dozens of Iraqi boys. (”Girls no play soccer,” Khalid, an aspiring center midfielder, explained as he clutched a new pair of sweat pants.) And after the 60-minute rout, members of both teams filed by to shake hands and exchange high-fives.

Leading scorer Ali, who one day hopes to play for Iraq’s national team — now desperately trying to advance in World Cup qualifying games — was diplomatic about his team’s easy win.

“We are a younger team,” he said through an interpreter. “The Americans are a bit older. They play with a lot of enthusiasm-but they don’t control the ball very well.”

“Next time,” added Maj. Wilson, “dodge ball.”

Mike Tharp reports for the Merced (Calif.) Sun-Star.

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