Iraq midfielder Nashat Akram wants to lift the spirits of the people in his war-torn nation by delivering them victory over Saudi Arabia in the final of the Asian Cup on Sunday.
Fifty Iraqi fans died just hours after the team defeated South Korea in a penalty shootout in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday when two car bombs were detonated amongst celebrating supporters in Baghdad.
The attack was a reminder for players and officials alike of the daily carnage that is inflicted on innocent civilians across the nation and brought a premature end to Wednesday's post-match celebrations.
"You saw after the game everyone was crying inside the field because we did something for the country, and this is good for the players," said the 23-year-old, who has recently been linked with a move to English Premier League side Sunderland
"But when we saw three or four hours later that all those people were dead, it was not good for us.
"Everybody is sad about this but hopefully God will help us to bring something better for our people."
Sunday's appearance will be Iraq's first in the final of the Asian Cup, although they are no strangers to success.
The nation claimed the gold medal at the Asian Games in 1982, won the Gulf Cup on three occasions in the 1970s and 1980s and also qualified for the football finals at three Olympics as well as the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico.
In 2004, just one year after the invasion that led to the overthrowing of Saddam Hussein, Iraq reached the semi-finals of the Athens Olympics while last December they were runners-up in the Asian Games, losing to hosts Qatar.
The two teams have already faced off against one another this year, with Saudi Arabia winning 1-0 in the group stages of the Gulf Cup in January, a result that saw the Iraqis exit the competition.
But since then Jorvan Vieira has taken over at the helm and the Brazilian has steered Iraq to victory over Australia in the group stages before defeating Vietnam in the quarter-finals and Korea - on penalties - in the semis.
"Last time Iraq played against Saudi we lost and the Iraq team went out of the group," said Akram.
"But this time it is different, it's not like before because we have different players and we have a coach from outside.
"He has changed everything because before now the Iraqi team has gone through the first round, the second round and the semi-final and we have gone through tough games against Australia, against Korea and Vietnam.
"These are all big games for us. We have to concentrate on the game and hopefully we can take the Cup."
The attack was a reminder for players and officials alike of the daily carnage that is inflicted on innocent civilians across the nation and brought a premature end to Wednesday's post-match celebrations.
"You saw after the game everyone was crying inside the field because we did something for the country, and this is good for the players," said the 23-year-old, who has recently been linked with a move to English Premier League side Sunderland
"But when we saw three or four hours later that all those people were dead, it was not good for us.
"Everybody is sad about this but hopefully God will help us to bring something better for our people."
Sunday's appearance will be Iraq's first in the final of the Asian Cup, although they are no strangers to success.
The nation claimed the gold medal at the Asian Games in 1982, won the Gulf Cup on three occasions in the 1970s and 1980s and also qualified for the football finals at three Olympics as well as the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico.
In 2004, just one year after the invasion that led to the overthrowing of Saddam Hussein, Iraq reached the semi-finals of the Athens Olympics while last December they were runners-up in the Asian Games, losing to hosts Qatar.
The two teams have already faced off against one another this year, with Saudi Arabia winning 1-0 in the group stages of the Gulf Cup in January, a result that saw the Iraqis exit the competition.
But since then Jorvan Vieira has taken over at the helm and the Brazilian has steered Iraq to victory over Australia in the group stages before defeating Vietnam in the quarter-finals and Korea - on penalties - in the semis.
"Last time Iraq played against Saudi we lost and the Iraq team went out of the group," said Akram.
"But this time it is different, it's not like before because we have different players and we have a coach from outside.
"He has changed everything because before now the Iraqi team has gone through the first round, the second round and the semi-final and we have gone through tough games against Australia, against Korea and Vietnam.
"These are all big games for us. We have to concentrate on the game and hopefully we can take the Cup."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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