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ITALY ELIMINATED FROM WORLD CUP FOR THIRD TIME: CALCIO APOCALYPSE
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Iraq qualified covers Italian drama with empathy — the respect of one who knows pain
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
Iraq just qualified for the first time since 1986 — yet Baghdad devotes an entire article to Italian pain. "Generation of Italians reeling from World Cup apocalypse": the word "apocalypse" comes from Gazzetta dello Sport and Iraq reprints it without irony.
Cristian Gobbi, 23, office employee in Milan, states: "I have not seen an Italy World Cup since I was 11. That is now 12 years." Emanuele Perrone, 38, teacher, adds: "It is truly disappointing. But ultimately, if any team deserved to qualify, it was certainly not us." Gazzetta reserves its harshest criticism for Gabriele Gravina, federation president during two of three consecutive failures.
The Iraqi choice to cover Italian drama is remarkable: that same evening, Iraq beat Bolivia 2-1 in Monterrey to secure its ticket. The outlet could have celebrated exclusively its own victory. Instead it devotes an article to the opponent's pain — a form of sporting respect recalling that Iraq, a nation at war, understands "resilience" better than most.
Unusual empathy: Iraq at war comprehends Italian sporting suffering
Wire service reproduction without filtering — no original Iraqi perspective on calcio
Omission of own Iraqi celebration in favor of Italian drama
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