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Egypt – Algeria 1989 revisited
Comments(13)![7735_1186704401869_1656064171_516320_2175062_n[1]](http://egypt.worldcupblog.org/files/2009/11/7735_1186704401869_1656064171_516320_2175062_n1.jpg)
Friday 17th November 20 years ago; in a day like no other, the Notorious busy streets of Cairo were left deserted, people returned from Friday prayers, sat in their living rooms as families gathered to watch the long anticipated encounter between the Egyptian National Team and Algeria to determine the 2nd African representative beside Cameroon in 1990 world cup on Egyptian TV, the only available option to watch a football game by then.
In Nasr City Suburb, the scene was totally different around Cairo Stadium; the fans spent the night before the game beside the stadium, sleeping in front of the gates until they were opened next day and fans were allowed inside. By then Cairo Stadium, known as the graveyard of Africa especially in the 1980’s period as no African team – club or national team- came here and survived, had benches that could receive 120 thousand fans unlike the chairs that limited the stadium’s capacity to 76 thousand only.
As fans flooded into the stands hours before the match, everybody was shouting MASR MASR (Egypt); developed cheering techniques weren’t as developed as nowadays after the introduction of Ultras groups in Egyptian stadiums with there jargon (Curva, Tifo….etc) banners and chants. Back during this time, Egyptian TV used to air the songs of Yasmeen El Khyam** “El masryeen ahomah” (these are the Egyptians) and Shadia’s “ya habebty ya masr” (Egypt my love) which was more than enough to spark the enthusiasm of the fans.
I should say that by then, Cairo Stadium wasn’t a suitable place for girls or families; it was only real men who attended football games and cheered “Salo 3al nabi….salo 3al nabi”
The opponent was tough, actually the toughest in African comprising the likes of Madjer, Belloumi and others who excelled in top European clubs while the home team was formed of players playing in local clubs Ahly and Zamalek; however, they had a special coach. Mahmoud El Gohary, a coach who can make miracles come true, a coach who built a strong team who could beat the best of the best (which was later proven right in the world cup).
The away match in Algeria ended in a 0-0 draw so hopes were high and everyone was motivated; the match was the last chance to appear on the international scene for stars Like Bebo, Taher Abu Zeid, Magdi Abdel Ghani, Gamal Abdel Hamid, Thabet El Batal and other stars who excelled during the 1980’s; but it was also the starting point of the careers of Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan, Hani Ramzy, Ahmed El Kass, Shobeir…..etc
The game started; it took only 5 minutes for this to happen
The game then went in one direction; Algerians whose reputation was being threatened tried their best to equalize but they faced a tactically tough side who could keep a goal.
Algeria, however, wasted many chances but fortunately the game ended 1-0 and Egypt returned to the world cup after 56 years of absence since 1934 in Italy only to play in the same country again in 1990.
Watch the celebrations
That game meant so much that people celebrated all night long, a tradition that followed during the world cup itself and until now after every major victory.
Listen to the people who were there
Under the same conditions we look forward to our game against the same opponent…..let’s just hope that we achieve the same outcome but not the same score isa.
مافيش طبطبة على الجزائر و أغنية رائعة لشرين وجدي
Posted from 
Hungary
IS SAYED MOAWAD GOIN 2 PLAY?
one more corrections. it was 56 years of absence from 1934 to 1990, you put 46.. just 10 years off haha.. insha Allah rabina yawafa2na waniksab by 3 so we dont have to deal with another playoff game! ya rab! BAD NEWS IS THAT HOSNI ABD RABOU will most likely not play because his recovery rate is slow and at that rate the medical staff said he wont recover on time to be fully fit… which is a HUGE blow to our midfield!!! looks like about trika will have to play in the middle with ahmed hassan, and zidan will play the attacking midfielder roll instead of treka feeding off zaki and meteab.. which sounds great still…
i think our formation would look best as follows
hadary
abdel zaher hani saied oaka
mohamed shawky
al mohamadi aboutrika moawad
zidan
meteab zaki
(3-4-3) i think this would be the best attacking and at the same time safest formation… ahmed fathi can come in for al mohamadi if he gets tired and abdel aziz tawfeek looked excellent in the match against tanzania can play for moawad if he gets tired.. we need fullllllll strength on the flanks so if theyre getting even a little tired at all they need to be subsituted!
ok thats enough for me ahhaa salamu a3laykum and i hope Allah is with us and gives us the strength to smash them this match and play like we did against brazil ya rab!!! whi
Treka Zidan Meteb and Zaki are our go to guys but im not so sure its best to play them all from the start. I feel that Treka does best when he is directly behind the strikers so I would want him behind 2 of them- we can then add the third when needed. I wish there was a way to get them all on the field but I would be worried about it… And we have to remember we cannot concede and they are more than capable
Posted from 
United States
Thanks for the corrections guys….xorrected now 
Ghanim: yes he is isa
i prefer if we play with Zidan, treika, zaki and meteb and put two fised midfielders while moohammadi and moawad attack very carefly!!!
I think it will be vital to control the midfield to be hoenst so I disagree with 3 strikers. Though I obviously dont get to see the national team that much living in the states. These games need midfield control though
Posted from United States
Maybe this would sound crazy, but i think the first 20 minutes we will need to play 2-1-3-2-3.
Hadary being the libero and in front of him Hany and Ooka.
In front of them Shawky, on the right Mohammady and on the left Barakat.
In front of them Abutreika and Zidan.
Then 3 Strikers, Meteeb, Zaki and Ahmed Raoof.
Strikers should keep pressure on the defense not to pass to midfield. They will be forced to play long balls which are easy to defend.
If we score one or two goals (which Inshaallah will happen), we need to shift to 3-5-2 since the first game style can be very tiring.
In this case I would bring out Ahmed Raoof and put ElSakka instead playing the libero role, 2 stoppers Hany and Ooka.
Shawky, Mohammady and Barakat true defensive roles.
Stay with Zidan and Abutreika az attacking midfielders and 2 strikers Zaki and Meteeb.
Second half I would pull out Barakat and Treika and push in A.Hassan and Moawwad.
If we don’t score the first 20 minutes or receive any goal (la kaddar Allah), we will need to shift to the 3-4-3.
Whatever the formation or the players chosen for this match, I trust Shehata and the guys and Inshaallah we will win a big one 
Posted from Hungary
I would prefer Zidan up front than in midfield- He works very hard up there and is needed
Posted from United States
Amir: akeed you don’t want Barakat to play on the left side; this was the same mistake that cost us Zambia’s match. i prefer if Barakat come in as a substitute at the end of the game
as for Zidan, i was thinking of putting Treika and Zidan beside each other and in front of them Zaki and Meteb; it will put hell a lot of pressure on lgeria but every algerian attack will be very dangerous, it will be very risky unless the midfielders are fixed and we put a third defender and one extra player in midfield
it will be like 3-3-4, crazy i know but it will be effective in attack.
I know what you are talking about Tamim. But the circumstances are different…
Barakat has more good matches playing on the sides. Anyway, day by day i feel more confident about our win
Posted from Hungary
Some good news, incase there is a tie-breaker it will be played in Sudan. All the Sudanese people are gonna support us. This should put alot of pressure on the Algerian players knowing that a 2-goal-margin is also not in their favour. I’m getting more optimistic by the day…
the above photo of the egyptian goal clearly show a FOUL against the Algerian goal keeper………but this is history untold.
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Another difference, I was 13 at that time
Nice article as usual Tamim. Great Job!
Just one correction, Yasmin El Khayam is the singer of the Elmasryeen ahomma.
Posted from
Hungary