beirut syrian president bashar al-assad meet two former dissident footballers return national team world cup qualify campaign years exile photograph post office show monday syria football team outdo expectations campaign qualify world cup finals reach play-off australia oct. 10 lose 2-1. photograph publish presidency social media fee show apparently amicable conversation firas al-khatib omar al-soma players picture syrian opposition flag early conflict photograph show assad pose whole team sign player jacket syria war begin demonstrations assad 2011 kill hundreds thousands syrians leave half population homeless army gain momentum past two years military support russia iran government say policy pardon syrians join opposition unless blood hand however many exile say fear arrest return football team unexpectedly strong performance qualifiers hail many government supporters unify moment country opposition supporters identify team assad government decline back syria 's assad meet dissident footballers damascus