Iraq Vs Australia – friendly football
09 May - Diggers took a brief break from their security and training mission in Southern Iraq to play a ‘friendly’ international football match against Iraqi soldiers, reinforcing the strong training ties between the two armies.
Sergent Corey Hill, a medic from Overwatch Battle Group (West), who captained and coached the Australian team said the match, which ended in a two all draw, was a once in a life time opportunity.
The Iraqi team hired a professional coach in the weeks leading up to the game. Both teams had a month’s training to prepare for the game.
Football Australia donated a full set of national uniforms for the players and referees.
Sergent Hill was full of praise for the Iraqi soldiers. “They had very good skills on the ball, were fast and agile and played well as a team,” he added.
Both Australian goals were scored by ‘Combat Team Heeler’ medic Corporal Robbie Keenan, who was also awarded ‘Man of the Match’.
The match was played at the Iraqi Army’s Camp Ur, near Tallil in Iraq, on a dusty dirt pitch in temperatures near 40 degrees Celsius.
Australia’s Socceroos will play Iraq in a World Cup qualifying match in Brisbane on the 1st of June.
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