Comments on: Egypt: The Unsurprising Surprise http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/ Exploring football culture around the world. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:51:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Aruba Reviews http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-5552 Aruba Reviews Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:09:11 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-5552 Egypt had always had a serious history with soccer, not only they have a good team, the whole country loves it... when Egypt national team plays, Egypt stops for 90 minutes. Egypt had always had a serious history with soccer, not only they have a good team, the whole country loves it… when Egypt national team plays, Egypt stops for 90 minutes.

]]> By: Egypt Diving http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-5202 Egypt Diving Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:59:10 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-5202 It is clear that the Egypcian soccer league is way better than other african nationes, regarding soccer.. but overall the players are not GREAT. they will never really make it big time overseas. It is clear that the Egypcian soccer league is way better than other african nationes, regarding soccer.. but overall the players are not GREAT. they will never really make it big time overseas.

]]> By: Stephane http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-4533 Stephane Tue, 06 May 2008 01:56:34 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-4533 I am not sure I agree that Egypt domestic leagues are all that strong, perhaps maybe better than given credit for, but certainly not all that great. I am not sure I agree that Egypt domestic leagues are all that strong, perhaps maybe better than given credit for, but certainly not all that great.

]]> By: Daily Dose 2.11.08 - World Cup Blog - African Cup of Nations 2008 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-2868 Daily Dose 2.11.08 - World Cup Blog - African Cup of Nations 2008 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:01:11 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-2868 [...] Egypt remind us there’s life outside the Euo-leagues (Pitch Invasion) [...] [...] Egypt remind us there’s life outside the Euo-leagues (Pitch Invasion) [...]

]]> By: Jack Lord http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-2866 Jack Lord Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:02:42 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-2866 The final didn't live up to the excitement of the rest of the tournament, but I'm glad the right team won. Throughout the cup, Egypt have played attractive football, and looked like a slick unit rather than an assortment of stars - England take note. I did tip Egypt at the start of the tournament, but lost any cachet for this by switching to Cote d'Ivoire half way through, and consistently underestimating Cameroon. Cote d'Ivoire were ultimately a big disappointment. They looked so strong and skillful, but as the Egypt semi-final was slipping away from them, their response was almost non-existent. They looked beaten for much of the second half. Overall, it was a great tournament. The BBC coverage was really good too - the commentators were obviously loving it. Hopefully, it will do two things: raise the profile of African football, and show up those managers moaning about a pointless tinpot tournament. The final didn’t live up to the excitement of the rest of the tournament, but I’m glad the right team won. Throughout the cup, Egypt have played attractive football, and looked like a slick unit rather than an assortment of stars - England take note.

I did tip Egypt at the start of the tournament, but lost any cachet for this by switching to Cote d’Ivoire half way through, and consistently underestimating Cameroon. Cote d’Ivoire were ultimately a big disappointment. They looked so strong and skillful, but as the Egypt semi-final was slipping away from them, their response was almost non-existent. They looked beaten for much of the second half.

Overall, it was a great tournament. The BBC coverage was really good too - the commentators were obviously loving it. Hopefully, it will do two things: raise the profile of African football, and show up those managers moaning about a pointless tinpot tournament.

]]> By: historyman http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-2863 historyman Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:50:01 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-2863 I agree with Amherst Gooner. Egypt doesn't automatically conjure up images of Africa when its name is mentioned. I tend to think of it as being the Middle East. Its politics, culture, and history are inseparable from the region, even though it technically lies outside that region. Are all of the squad Muslim? That would also have a unifying effect on the squad, in comparison with some of the other countries. I agree with Amherst Gooner. Egypt doesn’t automatically conjure up images of Africa when its name is mentioned. I tend to think of it as being the Middle East. Its politics, culture, and history are inseparable from the region, even though it technically lies outside that region.

Are all of the squad Muslim? That would also have a unifying effect on the squad, in comparison with some of the other countries.

]]> By: Amherst Gooner http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-2862 Amherst Gooner Mon, 11 Feb 2008 04:16:28 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-2862 I would say it's a shock because neither foreign observers nor, for that matter, most Egyptians, think of Egypt as a part of Africa except for situations such as this. Culturally and politically it has much more in common with Western Asia. I would say it’s a shock because neither foreign observers nor, for that matter, most Egyptians, think of Egypt as a part of Africa except for situations such as this. Culturally and politically it has much more in common with Western Asia.

]]> By: Puppy Dogs+Ice Cream. http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-2852 Puppy Dogs+Ice Cream. Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:55:40 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-2852 [...] Top Posts Among the Thugs, Freaks and Footballers.Tubular Round Up!Resume February 11, 2008, 1:55 am Filed under: Uncategorized “C’mon you Pharaohs!”, doesn’t have a familiar ring to it- but that’s exactly who kept the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon (even the team names have a breathless quality) at bay in a sweeping end to the thrilling African Cup of Nations.   For whatever reason, many of us didn’t rate the Egyptians to win (I was rooting excitedly for Ghana), which as Tom Dunmore writes, we really shouldn’t have. [...] [...] Top Posts Among the Thugs, Freaks and Footballers.Tubular Round Up!Resume February 11, 2008, 1:55 am Filed under: Uncategorized “C’mon you Pharaohs!”, doesn’t have a familiar ring to it- but that’s exactly who kept the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon (even the team names have a breathless quality) at bay in a sweeping end to the thrilling African Cup of Nations.   For whatever reason, many of us didn’t rate the Egyptians to win (I was rooting excitedly for Ghana), which as Tom Dunmore writes, we really shouldn’t have. [...]

]]> By: alex http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-2851 alex Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:52:54 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/02/10/egypt-the-unsurprising-surprise/#comment-2851 I picked out Egypt as winners after the first round of games. But yeah, a combination of recieved wisdom about north africans not liking it south of the Sahara desert, the lack of any star names and the fact that Egypt haven't qualified for a World Cup in, ooh, years makes it something of a shock to the media here. I picked out Egypt as winners after the first round of games.

But yeah, a combination of recieved wisdom about north africans not liking it south of the Sahara desert, the lack of any star names and the fact that Egypt haven’t qualified for a World Cup in, ooh, years makes it something of a shock to the media here.

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