Cote D'ivoire -v- Egypt | ANC 08 | Semi Final

[Kendall]

Kader Keita looks tasty.

 

[Bobishism]

Egypt are a disgrace to football. Dirty cheaters.

 

[coldasice199]

Gotta give it to Egypt. They have a great team ethic and fully deserved their win. Some of their tactics on rolling around and going to ground so easily is disappointing though. But they can play football....good football in fact, and I was very impressed with them when they got down and played yesterday.

 

[SpurSince57]

I thought they were the best team in the competition from the off. Ivory Coast may have more individually talented players, but there were times yesterday when it appeared they didn't have a brain between them.

And for Drogba of all people to claim the opposition is play-acting is a bit rich, to say the least.

 

[nickname]

Qoute from BBC report on the Egyptian success in ACN 2008:

"The Pharaohs' success can be attributed to their strong domestic league and the fact that many of the players in the squad are based in Egypt.

"They prove that you don't need to play in Europe to be a top quality footballer - just look at midfielder Hosny Abd Rabou who has had a great tournament," said BBC commentator Richard Connelly.

And in coach Hassan Shehata, they have a man who knows what he wants and how to achieve it, even if that means making tough decisions.
He famously substituted Mido in the semi-finals two years ago to the disgust of the star striker, only for his replacement Zaki to score with his first touch.

Shehata has also had to rebuild much of the team that won in 2006 due to unforseen cirmcumstances and injuries.

Rising star in the Egyptian game and 2006 medal winner, left-back Mohamed Abdul-Wahab, died of a heart defect during a training session in August 2007.
Key players such as 2005 BBC African Footballer of the Year Mohamed Barakat and striker Mido were both ruled out for the tournament through injury.

And midfielder Hossam Ghaly decided not to travel to Ghana in order to complete his transfer to English Premier League side Derby.

The loss of such big names would trouble even the best teams in the world, but Egypt have shown they have a large pool of talent to call on.

"They're an exceptional team who are comfortable with the system they play; they all know their own responsibilities and what to expect from their team-mates," according to Connelly.

"They are difficult to force to back down - scoring early goals and then hitting sides with clinical counterattacks.

"I fully expect Egypt to employ the same tactics as they have done throughout the tournament - even though they have already played Cameroon once." Shehata is also looking to become only the second coach to win successive Nations Cup titles - the only other person to do it is Ghana's GK Gyamfi in 1963 and 1965. "

I think that this article agrees with what I've said last night.

We've a strong league which produce good players who could match top african teams at the very least.

Believe me when i tell you that not a single Egyptian cares about Mido..he was never a God here but he used to be a promising Egyptian figure which we've thought highly of hoping he will reflect the good football we possess on motherland of Football " Europe, especially England"

We have a better striker now "Amr Zaki" (the one who replaced Mido in that famous incidence in 2006) who has scored 4 goals so far in the current ACN in addition to our Zizou..
In midfield we have better "box to box midfielder" than Ghaly who is " hosni abd rabou", he proved to be better than yaya toure and essien in that ACN without exxageration..

we have faith in those players to lift egyptian football up to higher levels and make the next WC in RSA.


BTW I am sorry for not being active in the SC as I am spending my obligatory period of military duties now..but I am still following the spurs and was very happy for capturing world class manager in Juande Ramos n beating the gooners 5-1..

 

[nickname]

Gotta give it to Egypt. They have a great team ethic and fully deserved their win. Some of their tactics on rolling around and going to ground so easily is disappointing though. But they can play football....good football in fact, and I was very impressed with them when they got down and played yesterday.

Thank you mate..
We also don't like when our players tend to roll around and bla bla but not disappointed for this as we know that they need snatch those opportunites to take a breath..

the players are not on the same level of fitness and atheletism as Ivory Coast players in addition they are playing in an extreme weather conditions ( temperature: 40 C and few inches above sea level )..Egyptians are not accomadated to such conditions..

England lost to Russia in extreme weather conditions..Weather conditions should never be neglected from considerations

 

[USA_SPURS]

the best part of the game was this "scums" defending i,e..Toure..
i busted out laughing every time i watched it.. still funny every time

http://www.zshare.net/video/73022555de6c31/

 

[SpurSince57]

The IC's defending was a joke. Every time Egypt got forward there looked to be a chance. It was very nearly 5-1.

IC do have some quality players, but no idea. Their game against Nigeria (to whom the same criticism applies) was a borefest, and trashing three weak sides flattered to deceive.

Where is Spursking?

 

[Marty]

Where is Spursking?

In the fetus position contemplating suicide?

 

[USA_SPURS]

The IC's defending was a joke. Every time Egypt got forward there looked to be a chance. It was very nearly 5-1.

IC do have some quality players, but no idea. Their game against Nigeria (to whom the same criticism applies) was a borefest, and trashing three weak sides flattered to deceive.

Where is Spursking?

 

[leffe186]

A lot of the ball for Toobs early on!