Egypt 3 – Guinea 3: let’s pretend we saw nothing!!!

August 14th, 2009 | by: Tamim | Comments(8)

First I have to apologize….again….. for not posting a preview of the game but before you say that I am lazy or uninterested or something, you have to know that this was one hell of a busy week for me.

Anyway, we didn’t miss much as the friendly game against guinea with its 3-3 draw came more as a disappointment rather than confidence booster ahead of Rwanda’s game.

I know it is a friendly and I know that it means nothing but I am tired of saying that we will learn the lesson because I have been saying this sentence a lot lately; maybe our team simply became unpredictable: one day they are a world class team and the next they are a very poor one.

The choice of guinea was an excellent one; they are a good, well organized side with some very talented players who can be quiet a challenge to any opponent; however, I would have preferred if the game was played away at noon like Rwanda’s match so we can put ourselves to the right test.

And so the game wasn’t easy despite our early goal as we were stunned by some very cheap goals from silly .aka, Scandalous defense mistakes by Hosni Abd Raboh and Mahomoud Fathallah.

Shehata started with Sayed Hamdy and Ahmed Raouf at the attack line, I know they aren’t a national team material but the more important question that we should ask is if these two have any chance of starting at Rwanda’s game; most probably not, because then our mysterious strikers’ shortage could be solved after the return of Zaki, Mido, Meteb beside Zidan, Shikabala and Abu Terika.

Shehata also started with both Shawky and Hosni in midfield; now both haven’t played any matches because Shawky isn’t settled with his team yet and the Emirates league didn’t start yet so basically both are out of form, despite Hosni’s 2 goals.

For the game itself, we only took maters seriously after Guinea’s third goal; unfortunately, it was too late because the Guinean team stood back at defense very firmly while our misspasses increased and some players wanted the match to end no matter what the result is.

One thing I earned from this game was that Ahmed Hassan needs to retire, internationally at least, and I am not saying because of one match or because the result wasn’t good; Ahmed was really helpless and slow and this is how he always play recently even with Ahly. He just can’t do it anymore; maybe he can be useful at the end of matches but never a starter.

Also, we have to admit, El Hadary isn’t the same goal keeper one year ago; I know much of the goals weren’t his fault but this how it has always been; defense makes silly mistakes, El Hadary salvages.

On the other hand, I have to hail Sayed Moawad for his extraordinary performances lately and the marvelous couple he is forming with Abu Terika.

The biggest shame

Will Hosni explain what exactly was he doing with this ball when the Guinean player simply snatched the ball, dribbled through El Hadary and Scored? And why did Hosni stand still waiting for the referee to stop the play?!!

And how exactly was Fathallah “fooled” by the Guinean player that way in the second goal?!!

Yes, it is our endless pain and ever disappointment of defensive mistakes that have always and will continue to cost us a lot unless Shehata intervene.

The problem with the defense line’s players is that they lose concentration at some moments or maybe they become way too confident in some critical balls, other times they just rely on one another until they leave the space wide open for the opponent to score.

Someone needs to do something about this soon.

Here are the highlights

Other significant results,

Algeria 1 – Uruguay 0

Zambia 1 – Ghana 4

What’s up with Zidan?

The player didn’t show up before the game closing his cell phone and becoming unreachable sparking a lot of controversy about the reason behind his absence.

After the game, his German club sent a fax message to the football associations stating that the player was injured and couldn’t finish his travel papers in time!!

Later, reports suggested that he broke up with his fiancée and was in a very bad mood so he didn’t come.

The consequences seems to be harsh as Shehata said he mayn’t call Zidan for the national team again; I partially support him because this was a very childish thing to do in such a critical time but I am not with a full ban maybe some fiscal punishments because, unfortunately, we need him and we can’t afford to lose more strikers especially with the terrible form Ahmed Raouf showed in the game.

Speaking of new players, Sayed Hamdy is good material but still needs time to develop.

So what do you think about zidan’s issue?