Syria - the world battlefield and football overcoming adversity

At 7:30 p.m. on August 27, the Syrian Olympic team will meet Vietnam in the quarterfinals of the Asian Games men's football tournament at Patriot Stadium, Indonesia. Syria has quality players but due to difficult conditions, they do not have the opportunity to train. Image of the Vietnamese team (in white) meeting Syria in the Asian U23 tournament in January. Photo:Mr. Khoa.

Syria is a country in Southwest Asia, located in the heart of the Middle East. Its official name is the Syrian Arab Republic. The official language is Arabic, according toJustfunfacts.

The country enacted laws banning protests, restricting the media, and allowing wiretapping, and maintained them for 48 years. The laws were only lifted in 2011 after the civil war broke out. Photo:Reuters.

Today, Syria has become a global battlefield, with the presence of at least 34 military forces. Photo:Facelife

The capital Damascus is known as the City of Jasmine. It is also one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. The name appears 45 times in the Old Testament and 15 times in the New Testament. Photo:Buzzfeed.

Syria has six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Pictured is the fortress.Saladin (Qal'at Salah El-Din). Photo:Just fun facts.

The Umayyad Mosque (Great Mosque of Damascus) in the capital is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world. In 2001, Pope Paul II visited this place. He was also the first Pope to visit a mosque. Photo:Islamic Landmarks.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' father was Syrian. Other famous people who have had Syrian citizenship include 'Desperate Housewives' star Teri Hatcher and singer Paula Abdul.

The traditional dish of the people is Kibbeh (made from onions, ground beef, or can be replaced with lamb, goat...). Photo:One arab vegan.

The two stars on the country's flag symbolize the former alliance between Egypt and Syria. Photo:Flags of countries.

Syrians have been drinking beer to relax since ancient times. Beer was found in the Ebla tablets, which date back to 2,500 BC. Today, the country has two types of beer, both of which are state-produced. Photo:NatGeo.

The “Valley of Screams” (also known as Echo Point) is where Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel meet. The name of the valley comes from the habit of people shouting to their loved ones through loudspeakers from one end of the valley to the other. Nowadays, with the development of mobile phones, this tradition is no longer practiced by many people, except for special occasions such as weddings, or when they want to see each other.. Image:BBC.