Soccer Fever

Unbelievably, Iraq beat South Korea on penalties today, and will face Saudi Arabia (which upset defending champ Japan) in Sunday's final. I'm sure we'll all be on extended lockdown in anticipation of more "celebratory" fire.

Iraq topped its group following a win over pre-tournament favorite Australia and reached its first Asian Cup semifinal since 1976. That ended a run of three consecutive quarterfinal defeats for the Iraqis at the continental championship and followed some unexpected results in major events, including a semifinal appearance at the 2004 Olympics and the final of the Asian Games in Doha last year.

Iraq's successful run has prompted some to say the mixed makeup of the team showed the rival ethnic and religious factions can unite despite years of sectarian violence.