Troops from NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan on Sunday celebrated Christmas Day with a football match – which also commemorated a match between German and British soldiers in the first World War.
 
In 1914, a number of German and British soldiers stopped fighting for a while and played a football match to celebrate Christmas. The ceasefire was not written into history books but it has been recognized as a symbol of peace in the world.
 
The match between German and British forces who serve the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan ended 1-0 in favor of the British soldiers.
 
“It is a way of celebrating Christmas Day. I am far away from my family, it gives us the sensation of being home a little bit, which is nice. But the second half is in memory of those who lost their lives in the first World War,” a British officer said.
 
“Everyone here on the NATO mission is working very hard for peace in Afghanistan. It would be nice to play often, but we can't. So it has been a very special day to come and play on the occasion of Christmas Day,” another British officer said.
 
“I got to play the last five to 10 minutes. It had really been interesting for our people to come together on Christmas Day. I really enjoyed it and I think everyone else enjoyed it as well,” a British sergeant said.