CAIRO: It’s a do or die game for Egypt’s U-20 team today as they host Italy in the Cairo Stadium. Both teams compete for the second qualification ticket to the round of 16 of the World Cup to accompany Paraguay.
Egypt, with three points, needs a victory against Italy, which has four points, if it is to qualify as Group A’s second; however, a draw may put them in a competition to be one of the best four teams in third place.
“We have reached the point that we wanted to avoid from the beginning and we will now have to win Italy’s game, Miroslav Soukop, Egyptian team’s coach, said.
Fans were left frustrated after Egypt lost its second group game 2-1 against Paraguay, while Italy beat Trinidad & Tobago 2-1 in a match that witnessed the referee calling off a goal for the Caribbeans.
The match may see the return of defenders Salah Solieman and Ahmed Hegazy who missed Paraguay’s game due to injury.
Mohamed Talaat, Moaz El Henawy and Mahmoud Touba, injured during the game, should be fit to play Thursday night; however, Hossam Arafat will miss out for suspension.
Soukop will have to work on his team’s defense that, despite a solid performance in the first half, committed the same defensive errors of Trinidad & Tobago’s game in the second half. They also wasted a lot of chances that could have secured an easy win.
Changes are expected in the lineup and formation of the team after team work and coordination between different positions was absent last match with some players playing individually while others losing focus in the second half.
Modifications may include increasing the number of strikers and changing some defense players and working on midfield players support for strikers.
On the other hand, Italy s team coach Francesco Rocca said that they were prepared for this match since they knew about the draw, and that playing in front of Cairo fans won t intimidate them.
Roca s team will be very satisfied with a draw; however, a victory might put them first in case Trinidad & Tobago achieves a surprise result against Paraguay.
The Azzurri failed to convince experts and followers as they failed to meet expectations and none of the players, except goalkeeper Vincenzo Fiorillo, grabbed the attention.
In Group B matches today, Spain and Venezuela go head to head for the first place in the group and staying in Cairo, while Nigeria will have to score as many goals as possible for a slight chance of qualifying as third.
In other results, Germany topped Group C after drawing with South Korea 1-1 while USA hammered Cameroon with four goals to mark one of the tournament s biggest surprises, winning 4-1.
Both teams will have to wait for the third round when USA meets South Korea, while Cameroon meets Germany to determine the owner of the group s second qualification ticket and final standing of the group.
In Group D, Uruguay and Ghana joined Spain, Venezuela, Germany and Paraguay in the round of 16 after beating Uzbekistan and England 3-0 and 4-0 respectively.
Ghana s Star Andre Ayew, son of Ghanaian star Abeide Bele, excelled in the game scoring a goal and wasting many chances.
Today s schedule
Group A
Egypt vs. Italy – Cairo Stadium, Cairo (21:30 CLT)
Trinidad & Tobago vs. Paraguay – Al Salam Stadium, Cairo (21:30 CLT)
Group B
Venezuela vs. Spain – Al Salam Stadium, Cairo (18:45 CLT)
Tahiti vs. Nigeria – Cairo Stadium, Cairo (18:45 CLT)
