The "Dream," as a Syrian TV announcer described it Tuesday, ended in a 2-1 extra-time loss to Australia. "You were heroes and drew smiles on the faces of all Syrians," Assad said in remarks carried on the presidency's Telegram page. "The Syrian team played in a mythical way. "It was a hard luck for the Syrian team that has wasted no chance to win," said Maher Awad, a 20-year-old university student. said the announcer on state-run Syrian TV, in reference to a string of military victories by Assad's Russia and Iran-backed forces.

Source: CBC News October 10, 2017 12:51 UTC