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Rwanda 0 – Egypt 1: Three points saved!!

September 5th, 2009 | By: Tamim | 39 Comments »

So let’s put it this way, although it wasn’t our fanciest performance but we got the job done and returned home with precious 3 points and increased the pressure on group leaders, Algeria.

Regardless of the tactics and the bad display, we won and this is what matters; now, we can only wait for good news from Algeria of a goalless draw with Zambia and nothing but that.

First of all, I think we all owe Ahmed Hassan an apology after we criticized him harshly and called for his retirement; he proved us all wrong and scored maybe the most important goal in the world cup 2010 qualification campaign; not only he scored but I guess he was one of the best players on the pitch today.

However, against such humble opponent we should have scored 2 or 3 goals at least because goal difference is going to be critical especially if two teams or more end up equal in points; unfortunately, neither the players nor Shehata were aware of this fact and were happy to score one goal and keep it despite the repeated chances to score more goals that were wasted carelessly by our strikers.

On the technical and tactical level we screwed up and our victory shouldn’t blind us from this fact; we appeared with no certain game plan and couldn’t keep the ball and force our play on a weak opponent who played spontaneous football; we also couldn’t take advantage of the opponent’s shaky defense and tactical inexperience,

Players like Shawky, Fathi, Mowad and Ahmed Raouf appeared to be out of the game and clearly out of form for the game maybe because of fasting; especially Shawky who is just turning into another Amr Zaki, talking more than playing and concentrating more on arguing with referees and opponents rather than help his team win the game, no wonder he doesn’t play with Middlesbrough.

We couldn’t use our wings despite the opponent’s weakness in them, no single decent cross was made and if one entered the penalty area by chance, there were always no strikers waiting for it and if they were they were wrongly positioned.

Our defense waited on the ball too much and put El Hadary to the test more than once; it just seems to be our never-ending dilemma.

Another lesson I learnt is that the new players failed to use the opportunity given to them as they failed to prove their value and didn’t even show sufficient determinism on the ball; except for El Gabas; they wasted a chance the may never get again with the return of Abu Terika, Mido, Zaki, Shikabala, Meteb and probably Zidan.

Barakat, I have to say, is more than valuable for this team as he enters, life returns to the team and our attacking capabilities increase with Barakat’s active motion inside the field, welcome back Barakat.

Also El Hadary deserves praise as he saved our goal from two dangerous chances that could have turned the game upside down and end our chances of a world cup appearance.

Math

We are now with 7 points and we only need Algeria and Zambia to draw tomorrow or at least Algeria win with one goal no more; if Zambia wins, then it will be very difficult for us to beat them there next round, as they will have equal chances of qualifying to the world cup; while an Algerian win would leave it up to us to win the next two games.

Another issue is the goal difference: Algeria has a +4 goal diff. while we have a +2 one. Given that they will play against hopeless Rwanda in Algeria, the last thing we need is Algeria beating Zambia with a score because then we will have to beat them with a score (3 or 4) here in Cairo.

That’s why we should have scored more at Rwanda here in Cairo and today!!!

Qualification parameter: 30%

I have to say that we will get better, hopefully, in the next couple of games when our stars return as I mentioned before; also our morals will be high as our chances bigger and bigger every game.

Here is the goal

So pray for a draw tomorrow and good luck in the upcoming games isa

Now we can focus on U-20 world cup taking place in Egypt this month

Tags: ahmed hassan, algeria, egypt, sehata, south africa, Team News, wanda, world cup 201, zambia

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 39 comments.

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By Rachid | September 6th, 2009 at 7:14 pm

Tamim, Algerians are killing you with kindness! The important thing is that one Arab country will go to SA from this group. The numbers suggest Algeria will be that country, but you really never know. Your game against Rwanda, despite the win, does not show you have a solid team than can get the job done in Zambia. So, hopefully you’ll have the more experienced players back in a month or so. Rwanda showed they were a very modest team, so quite likely Algeria will beat them in Algiers in the 5th game, bringing their total points to 13!. Therefore, unless Egypt wins in Zambia, the Egypt-Algeria encounter in the last game may just be a mere formality. Good luck to all!

By Dareen | September 6th, 2009 at 9:17 pm

what i dont get it is how are Algerians saying that Egypt is a shitty team by beating Rwanda only 1-0 when they had a goal less draw there. And does it count for anything that Rwanda hasn’t been beaten on home turf for 2 years. And dont forget that we were playing with our B team. Seriously Algerians should get a life they only started being good at soccer,where were u guys when we beat italy and almost tied with Brazil.

Posted from United States

By alex | September 6th, 2009 at 10:53 pm

Typically Egyptian, waiting for Zambia to do them favors.

Posted from Japan

By Tamim | September 7th, 2009 at 3:36 am

howari: what does gaza has to do with football!!….aren’t you, algerians, ever going to stop your nonsense of mixing sports with politics, religion and honor; but if you insist on this mix then i think the western desert, polisario and threatning a fellow arab country (morocco) with war is more important than a football match.

and i don’t like your smilies!!

Alex: just the same way you were waiting for Rwanda to do you favors!!

By Omar | September 7th, 2009 at 9:19 am

I agree with Tamim, let’s keep politics and especially our Palestinian brothers out of this.
Now could you please explain to me in what way was Algeria waiting for anybody to do them a favor? It seems to me that they have taken their fate in their own hands since the beginning of these qualifiers. Anyway, do you think Algeria is going to let Rawanda off on their home turf? The final match in Cairo will be ceremonial one way or the other, the goal difference speaks for itself.
Egyptians, you have to face it, there are people in college now who weren’t born the last time you were in the WC. You guys will probably have to wait until the same people retire or celebrate their first grandchild before you get back to the WC. By then though, Maghrebi teams will be playing in the Interplanetary Cup or something.

By Adnane | September 7th, 2009 at 10:06 am

This site is football and football only, lets keep the politics aside please. Lets discuss football, strategy and tactics only.

Ramadhan Kareem to all.

Posted from Canada

By Houari_Boumediene | September 7th, 2009 at 11:46 am

I think you did’nt understand my point at all !!
I am trying to say that football cannot split apart Algerians & Egyptians. We are brothers !!
I am just telling that football is a game, we are happy if we win, but we will not kill ourself if we loose ! come on !
Tamim I did’nt wrote the previous comment (with smileys) to bother you, just to say we are brothers
PS : Algeria never threat any countries.
The only fight independant Algeria fight was the war call the sand war. This war occured one year after independence and it was an agression against algeria. And Gamal was with US !
stop mixing politics with game.
By the way Tamim stop generalizing about how algerians are or you think they are. You are welcome to visit algeria and check this out.

Posted from France

By Tamim | September 7th, 2009 at 3:13 pm

Omar: the president of your football federation, Rwrawa said that he would double the match’s prize in case egypt loses against rwanda and it was published in your El Shrouk newspaper, means that you were waiting for a favor by rwanda.

concerning the goal difference, each goal we score in egypt equals 2 because we increas +1 and algeria decrease -1; you are +5 and we are +2,if we assume you beat rwanda 3-0 and we beat zambia 1-0 or 2-0, then we may only need to score 2 or 3 goal at you at most here in cairo

“do you think Algeria is going to let Rawanda off on their home turf? The final match in Cairo will be ceremonial one way or the other, the goal difference speaks for itself.”

that’s the spirit we need from you guys

“WC. You guys will probably have to wait until the same people retire or celebrate their first grandchild before you get back to the WC. By then though, Maghrebi teams will be playing in the Interplanetary Cup or something.”

algeria last qualfied 86, egypt last qualified 1990!!!!!!

Adnane: Ramadan Kareem

Houari: sorry for the misunderstanding, good luck

By Tamim | September 7th, 2009 at 3:25 pm

on another note, we will have to see what will be the FIFA’s response to the flares fired during the game, last time they warned that if flares are thrown again there would be heavy fines and matches maybe moved to a neutral venture!!!

“we will qualify from Rwanda’s game and we will only go to Egypt to visit the pyramids,” Rafik Saifi, goal scorer against Zambia

good, we need more of that!!

By Mostafa | September 7th, 2009 at 4:31 pm

hahah knowing fifa they prolly not planning on doing much and if they do it will be a small fee….

By Mostafa | September 8th, 2009 at 2:53 am

how come ppl forget that rawanda needs a win to qualify for angola and needed badly so even if algeria beat them i highly doubt it will be a blow out…..

By Adham K. | September 8th, 2009 at 6:16 pm

GO EGYPT 2010!!! I really hope Egypt makes it its going to be tough but look what happend to USA in the Confedarations cup they came from last place and made it to the last round championchips of the Fifa CC. So any thing can happen Algeria dont get ur hopes up yet this is still a battle even for Zambia. African football is becoming a thing to watch now alot of star strikers and players to look foward on seeing play especilly Egypt Hope the A sqaud is in for the next game zidan zakiy trika exc…. we were missing the whole team we almost played with the Egypt u-20 team vs. Rawanda lol jp…..Goooo! Egypttt!!!

Posted from United States

By Adham K. | September 8th, 2009 at 6:25 pm

oh and Omar shut your mouth your team just started becoming good this 15 minuets of fame can be taken from the Algrians in a hart beat so chill watch the beautiful game of soccor and will see wat team makes it but to start saying wats going to happen is jsut stupid you guys have no braging rights remember we have the record of 6 titles for the caf champs and first team from africa to beat a good and returning world capms Italy
. iiightttt pzpz

Posted from United States

By Alex | September 9th, 2009 at 9:22 am

Adham, Algeria was kicking German butt in 1982 while you guys watched from your living rooms munching fava beans! Even though it’s been longer since the Desert Foxes have been to the world cup, they’re going next year and will kick some major European and South American ass, while guys watch on T.V and pray that the Egyptian NT goes to the WC while the Pyramids are still standing.

By Tamim | September 9th, 2009 at 9:24 am

are you even algerian?!!

By Tamim | September 9th, 2009 at 9:32 am

if you want to talk about history, Egypt played in the world cup while the whole arab world and africa didn’t know that football is played (u will say that there wasn’t any competition; so why didn’t you participate!!!)

By Alex | September 9th, 2009 at 10:20 am

Because Algeria was colonized by a foreign country (France), don’t you have history books in Egypt?
In 1958, several talented players of Algerian origin were selected to play in the world cup as members of the French national team, but they chose to give that up and instead escaped the country and went to Tunisia where they started the first Algerian national team as a symbol of Algerian independence. They played their first game against Tunisia, even though FIFA banned any member teams from playing against them, and the French government demanded their arrest.
So while you guys were playing neighborhood soccer with Sudan and calling it an African Cup, Algerian players were doing their part to fight oppression and imperialism.

That, my friend, is a soccer team which has History.

By Alex | September 9th, 2009 at 10:23 am

And no I am Tunisian, but from the part of the country close to Algeria, and my family has members on both sides of the border.

By Adnane | September 9th, 2009 at 10:30 am

Sport is about humility and work. You guys and your “my dad has a bigger ______” type of argument does not make you look very good.

Anyone that knows a little about Algerian football knows that the main reason Algerians, like most Africans cannot reach higher levels in international competition is not lack of talent, but a lack of organization. The majority of Algerian squad is made of players who were formed in France. Similarly having players like Zidane, Nasri and Benzema playing in the greatest clubs is no surprise because they were at a good formation center to build their skills and develop their work ethic. During the 90s Algeria was going through a civil war, hence, pointless to say that football was not the first issue.

But a country that can raise players like Madger and Belloumi can certainly achieve much in the international scene and no one should forget that. Ziani, Belhadj Meghni and Yebda are world class players that can probably be starters in any top team in Europe if put in the correct conditions. There is also the comings of Boudebouz in Sochaux (followed by MAnU) and Feghouli in Grenoble (followed by Chelsea) who will soon be world class players as well. Give the opportunities to young players to blossom under correct conditions and you will see them do very well in international competitions.

The same thing applies to Egypt. Unless you guys increase the professionalism of the clubs, especially when it comes to the youth, and until you guys will have enough players in Europe, Egypt will win no world cup, and I strongly doubt on the capacity to achieve something important in the next world cup. Zidane prepared himself, mentally and physically a whole year for the world cup in Germany. It is no coincidence he came up with such a perf against Brazil, Spain and Portugal. He had the talent but most importantly he had the work ethic.

Posted from Canada

By Tamim | September 9th, 2009 at 10:32 am

and why didn’t Tunisia play in that “African cup”?!!

for your info, aside from beating Sudan, we were playing with the likes of Hungary, a strong team by then, and Italy not to mention famous clubs that we invited to play in Egypt.

we went through this phase of colonization in the early 20th century and won our independence and earned the right to play football against international teams and raise the Egyptian flag there.

and yes we have history books that documents 7000 years of civilization!!

By Alex | September 9th, 2009 at 10:37 am

Tunisia was the first African team to actually win a WC game, which atones for any previous failures.

By Tamim | September 9th, 2009 at 10:41 am

Adnane: i respect your opinion very much,

the problem of lack of organization is present in the whole arab world; regarding, players in europe, egypt has proved many times that it isn’t about how many players you have in europe , but how good your players really are.

maghreb players adapt more rapidly in europe because they speak french, their egyptian counterparts have language barriers and suffer from homesickness quickly so they return home; on the other hand, we have a very strong local competition with clubs who have the history and potential to make achievements and dominate the african continent that makes up for the lack of european based players.

also professional players outside the country always cause problems, they always refuse to join the national team and prefer to stay with their clubs; also local based players have more chemistry and adabt with each other in less time.

Thanks for your comment…..Ramadan Kareem

By Adham ~GO EGYPT!~ | September 10th, 2009 at 9:48 am

come on alex ur talking to me about the 80’s man we are talking about 2010 here and farva beans are awsome i would be eating it right now but im fasting lol and yes our Pyramids are still standing just like our team does you see it takes endurance, strangth, and great smarts to build thoes pyramids and to go to the WC somthing the Egyptians did in there time and are capable of doing it again come WC 2010 we shall get to the top of the Pyramid victoriously maybe even as world cup champs we did play our best football in front of the world dring the Confederations Cup almost beating Brazil the number one team in the world at this time and beating the world champs there is somthing special about this group dont doubt it be about it EGYPT!!!! 2010!!! TILL THE END!!!

Posted from United States

By ~EGYPT!~ Adham ~GO EGYPT!~ | September 10th, 2009 at 9:49 am

Ramadan Kareem!!!!!!!! = )

Posted from United States

By Amir | September 11th, 2009 at 2:23 am

No one denies that Algeria has great talents, however you guys cannot have a stable level for longer than a season. If you guys would have performed high class long ago, we would never meet in the same group…
Reaching the top is easy, maintaining it is difficult. Egyptians were always on the top, still are and will always be. End of it.

Posted from Hungary