One not so logical scenario!!

Egypt – Zambia 29/3/2009

The fans are optimistic after Algeria draw away with Rwanda in the previous day; the game starts with intense pressure from the Egyptian team in the first 15 minutes before things calm down and the Zambian team scares with a shot saved by El Hadary’s fingertips. Amr Zaki snatches the ball and end up with a one on one situation with the keeper but he wastes it easily.

The second half begins; Hosni Abd Raboh fires one, the keeper reflects it and Zaki scores. The Zambian team waste two real chances for equalizing during the next five minutes but Egypt control things again before Abu Treika scores Egypt’s second in the 82nd minute.

Algeria – Egypt 7/6/2009

A very heated atmosphere in Blida stadium; a lot of yellow cards are given for both teams and the referee blows for a penalty kick for Algeria, El Hadary failed to save it. After the goal, The Algerian players practice their notorious habit of wasting time.

The second half begins Zaki equalize for Egypt before we play with 10 men but we manage to keep the score and the game ends in a draw. Zambia beat Rwanda so we are still at the top of the group.

Egypt – Rwanda 10/6/2009

No time for rest; Shehata gives a chance for the substitutes and the game goes in one direction after we score 4 goals while Rwanda scored one in the extra time.

Zambia beat Algeria in Zambia and we are at the top of the group; the fans celebrate in the streets.

Rwanda – Egypt 5/9/2009

Egypt is stunned with an early goal from Rwanda in the tenth minute followed by increased pressure from the Egyptian team. In the second half, news comes from Algeria with a Zambian victory then Ahmed Hassan equalize from the spot.

Zambia – Egypt 10/10/2009

We need a win; the play is limited in the midfield and the game ends in a boring goalless draw.

Egypt – Algeria 14/11/2009

One big day in Egyptian football; some people are wary while others are optimistic that the 1990 scenario would repeat itself.

The game starts with a shot from Abd Raboh reflected by the post, Egypt pressures more but a sneaky counter attack ends up with one goal for the visitors; Zambia open the score against Rwanda and the referee call off Zaki’s goal however, the referee whistles for a penalty kick for us and Abu Treika level things.

Rwanda equalize as well.

History repast itself, Hossam Hassan watches from the stands as Amr Zaki scores with a header in the last minutes of the game in the same goal and in the same angle where Hassan scored the qualification goal in Algeria back in 1990.

The game ends 2-1 and we are at the world cup.

the article was published in one of the supplements of Al Ahram newspaper; it is not serious of course but it maybe partly true. i noticed three things:

1- the writer only concentrated on 3 players Zaki, Abu Trieka and Hosni Abd Raboh ignoring Zidan, Mido and Meteb!!!

2- The scenario assumes that Algeria would achieve such bad results which maybe true, they lost at home to Gabon 3-0 in the last world cup qualifiers, but it is very unlikely to happen.

3- It also assumes that the referees will be fair enough to give us penalty kicks in away matches; most probably never going to happen.

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