Backed by a tyrant.. but divided nation’s players keep World Cup hopes alive

Brian McIver They haven’t played a home game in seven years because they come from the most dangerous place on Earth.

Their once-proud homeland has been wrecked by a catastrophic civil war and a bloody battle still rages there for the IS-controlled city of Raqqa.

But, against all the odds, the nationalnational footbal l team of Syria stands on the brink of qualifying for a World Cup Finals for the first time in the history of the tournament.

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan, like any national team boss, has to cope with injuries and loss of form in players.

But the challenges faced by the Syrian side are in a different league entirely.

They have had to overcome setbacks such as players dying in combat, a badly shelledshel led federation office and making 15,000- mi le round trips to Malaysia for home fixtures.

Despite it all, their 2-2 draw with Iran last week earned them a play- off place against Asian qualifying sector favourites Australia – whose side includes Celtic star Tom Rogic – as they bid to get to the World Cup in Russia next year.

That 93rd-minute equalising strike by Omar al- Somah had commentary teams in tears, while supporters showed their joy in wild celebrations.

One of two major obstacles which remain in their path are a Socceroos side full of millionaire stars, many of whom are veterans of previous World Cups and the Champions League.

Some Syrian players struggle on in their homeland’s crumbling domestic league, despite the civil war between President Bashar al-Assad’s army and the opposition rebels, as well as the presence of IS fanatics.

Others ply their trade in leagues in the Maldives, Iraq and Qatar, with one in the Chinese league.

Such is the division in the country that the football team is far from a unifying force.

Players supportive of the rebels have found loyalties split by the backing Assad has given to those f lying the national f lag on the pitch.

Giant screens were erected around the capital of Damascus, with thousands of people f looding the streets after the Iran match.

But not all are supportive – and millions aren’t able to join in.

Since the civil war began in 2011, following the abortive Arab Spring, 11million people have been forced to flee their homes in the worst humanitarian crisis of our time.

Assad’s regime, blamed for at rocitrocit ies such as mass executions and chemical weapons attacks on the opposition, has been subject to crushing economic sanctions.

But despite the gradual crumblcrumblinging of the nation’s infrastructure as fighting rages across the country, football has