Iraqi and Italian footballers appeal for Enzo

Iraq and Italy will be playing for the Olympic bronze tomorrow. Iraq's national football coach Adnan Hamad said: "We want to send a message of peace to those who have taken [Enzo]. They should let him go back to his family. We are all brothers, we are all human beings." The Italian coach Claudio Gentile has said that if Italy wins the game it will dedicate the bronze medal to Enzo... however I suspect that Enzo will be cheering for Iraq and I wouldn't be surprised if he has already won over his captors with his good humour and he is currently teaching them Italian football chants and learning Arabic ones in return in preparation for the big game!

Follow the amazing Iraqi football team on Iraqisoccer.net, the National Olympics Committee and Iraqisport.com. I spent a couple of hours wandering around Hyde Park in London a few months ago with Ewa Jasiewicz looking for them when they were over in Britain for a goodwill tour, but unfortunately I got the time wrong and so we missed them.