Syria preparing for World Cup playoff against Australia

FILE – In this June 7, 2017 file photo, Syria’s Mardek Mardkian, second from left, celebrates a goal with teammates during their international friendly soccer match against Japan in Tokyo. Regardless of how Syria does in its World Cup playoff against Australia, the team has helped football knock fighting out the headlines for a while in their war-torn country. The Syrians are still in contention to qualify for the World Cup for the first time, and the journey to their biggest match so far has captured domestic and international attention.(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, File)