World Cup success a lift for troubled Egypt

World Cup success a lift for troubled Egypt - The impressive run of Egypt in World Cup qualifying over the last fortnight has much more significance for the country than just moving the tournament dream a step closer, coach Bob Bradley told Reuters.

"At a time when the country is looking for things that are good, this is very important," he said of Egypt's seamless progress to the last phase of African qualifiers for next year's tournament in Brazil.

Victories in Zimbabwe and Mozambique over the last fortnight in preliminary competition ensure Egypt kept up a 100 percent record in their group, the only African side with five wins from five matches.

  

Zimbabwe's Khama Billiat (C) fights for the ball between Egypt's Wael Gomaa (L) and Mohamed Ibrahim during their 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match at Borg El Arab "Army Stadium", west of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, 230 km (143 miles) north of Cairo, March 26, 2013. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

They have one more to play but are guaranteed top place in their section and will take part in the playoffs in October and November which determine places for Brazil.

"This team has a strong belief, we have finished the group and now we begin to think about how to be ready for the playoffs because the goal for everyone in Egypt is of course the World Cup," Bradley said.

"To finish the group early was very important. To come away on the road and take six points says a lot about the mentality of the group," said the American after the latest triumph, a 1-0 win over Mozambique in Maputo on Sunday. They also beat Zimbabwe 4-2 in Harare.

"We have a lot of belief in what we are doing, it showed that we can win at home and on the road and now we only think about how to be ready for the playoffs," Bradley added.

Egypt's political and social upheaval in the wake of the Arab spring, has impacted dramatically on football in the country where the league only restarted six months ago after a year-long hiatus and where most matches are still played behind closed doors for security concerns.

Bradley, coach of the United States team at the last World Cup in South Africa, was an unusual choice as Egypt coach when he took the job in October 2011.

But has made a good impression in Cairo with his decision to stay on despite the turmoil of the last 18 months since a stadium riot in Port Said caused 74 deaths and led to the near shutdown of the game in the north African country.

Egypt has been increasingly obsessed by the team's failure to qualify for the World Cup since their last appearance in Italy in 1990, despite record-breaking dominance in the African Nations Cup finals over the last decade.

"Brazil is two games away. We must keep focus. One game at a time," Bradley said.

Reuters

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Soccer-Seedorf sent off for leaving pitch the wrong way

Soccer-Seedorf sent off for leaving pitch the wrong way - Dutchman Clarence Seedorf was bizarrely sent off in Botafogo's 2-1 win over Madureira on Sunday for arguing with the referee over where he should leave the pitch after being substituted.

His stoppage-time dismissal capped an afternoon in which Botafogo were also awarded a penalty, only for the referee to change his mind as Seedorf was about to take the kick.

The first-half spot-kick was awarded with the game still goalless when Rafael Marques appeared to be fouled in the penalty area.

Former AC Milan, Ajax, Sampdoria and Real Madrid midfielder Seedorf had began his run-up when the referee stopped the game, consulted his linesman and changed his mind, saying that Marques had been passed the ball by a player in an offside decision.

Botafogo protested angrily, claiming the referee had received information from sources off the pitch who had seen television replays.

On being substituted at the end, Seedorf, who scored the winning goal in the 68th minute, walked towards the Botafogo bench but was ordered by the referee to go off on the other side of the pitch to save time,

Seedorf protested, was booked, turned his back on the referee and was given another yellow card.

"I didn't understand anything," he told touchline reporters.

The game was played in the Carioca championship, one of a plethora of regional tournaments which kick off the Brazilian season.

The weekend's programme went ahead as usual even though some clubs were missing players called up for Brazil's friendlies against Italy, which they drew 2-2 in Geneva last Thursday, and Russia in London on Monday.

Brazilian champions Fluminense, missing three players including striker Fred, drew 0-0 at Duque de Caxias in front of barely more than 1,000 fans on Saturday.

Santos, deprived of prodigy Neymar, drew 0-0 with Palmeiras in the Paulista championship on Sunday.

Reuters – Sun, Mar 24, 2013 6:55 PM EDT

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