Surprise package Egypt take on Bob Bradley's underperforming United States here Sunday with a place in the Confederations Cup semi-finals within their grasp. The Pharaohs turned up in South Africa under a cloud after making heavy weather of early qualifying for next year's World Cup.
But Hassan Shehata's African champions have confounded their critics with two inspired performances against Brazil, where they were unlucky to go down 4-3, and Italy. Mohamed Homos' first half goal against the world champions in Johannesburg on Thursday blew Group B wide open. A win over the States will put Egypt on six points and into the last four if Italy fail to beat defending champions Brazil.
Victory for the Italians will put all three teams level, with goal difference the deciding factor. Assistant coach Shawky Gharib told AFP: "Going into the last game there's the possibility of Egypt, Brazil and Italy all being level. "In any event the initiative is in our own hands. If we win by a wide margin we will go through regardless of what happens in the other game."
Looking back on their first two games Gharib added: "Our first match against Brazil we were not very confident and made a lot of mistakes, but against Italy we played with more confidence and gained an historic win. Exciting times then for the Egyptians who could be without striker Mohamed Zidan, the author of a double against Brazil but who went off with a hamstring injury in Thursday's match.
Defender Wael Gomaa, whose job it will be to contain the US's captain and all time leading goalscorer Landon Donovan, added: "We know we will need to work hard to beat the United States and qualify for the next phase." Winger Ahmed Fathi predicted: "The Americans will be difficult but we have to win it to go through." The Egyptians' opponents turned up in South Africa as CONCACAF Gold Cup titleholders and with impressive form in 2010 World cup qualifying.
But they have developed a dangerous trait of losing a player to a red card - Ricardo Clark in the 3-1 defeat to Italy and Sacha Kljestan in the 3-0 drubbing by Brazil. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, to lose one player can be regarded as misfortune, to lose two smacks of carelessness.
"Our second red card in a row was very disappointing," conceded Bradley. "The players were trying to push harder but by doing that one ended up making a rash challenge aand that hurts the team for the rest of the game." The 3-1 scoreline against Italy was harsh on the Americans but they will have to raise their game third time around to stop Egypt.
Especially as they are still not completely out of the race for the Group B runners-up spot as a win here would put them in a three-way tie with Egypt and Italy if they are beaten by Brazil. Despite the comprehensive nature of the loss to Brazil Bradley could still take one positive from the game. "When you are down a man to Brazil and down a couple of goals it takes an extra amount of work by everyone on the field to keep going until the end."
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