Iraqi soccer coach's press conference (from ATSNN)

sportsillustrated.cnn.com
In remarks to reporters over the past week, Hamad criticized the U.S. occupation of Iraq and blamed the devastation in his country on President Bush -- who is taking credit for Iraq's return to the Olympics in his re-election advertising.

Officials running Tuesday's post-match news conference sought to limit non-soccer questions, but Hamad did manage to appeal for the release of an Italian journalist held by kidnappers in Iraq. Unprompted, the coach then elaborated on his feelings toward Americans.

"We have nothing against the American people, even though our country is destroyed," he said. "We are sad, for sure, that some of our women and children were killed."




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