The fairy tale of 2018 World Cup came to end after fierce competitions took place between 32 teams from 14 June to 15 July.
Over almost 30 days, we enjoyed real football and beautiful respected fans sitting together in different stadiums to support their teams in a civilised manner.
How can the Egyptian football benefit from the 2018 World Cup, regardless of the national team’s exit from the group stage?
1- Organisation
The time and location of 2018 World Cup fixtures were determined long before the tournament, while the Egyptian Premier League has yet to announce the time or location of any game in the league.
2- World Cup Fan ID cards
One of the great ideas introduced in the 2018 World Cup is spectator cards, as the Russian authorities gave each fan a card including all his personal data, whereby security was able identify the fans through their card numbers.
On other side, Egyptian spectators were banned from attending any local football competitions since the Port Said tragic massacre that was in February 2012. Even in continental competitions, repeated incidents of riots accompany most of the games, which prompt security authorities to hold matches without spectators.
3- Reliance on local coaches
Many of the 2018 World Cup teams were led by national head coaches, such as France’s Didier Deschamps, Croatia’s Zlatko Dalic, and England’s Gareth Southgate.
Egyptians still prefer a foreign coach over a national one, although former local coaches, such as Mahmoud Al-Gohary and Hassan Shehata made great achievements with the national team.
Egypt is experiencing a severe economic crisis and a shortage of hard currency, hence it will be logically accepted to contract with a national coach capable of leading the team in the coming period.
5- Future planning
Arab and Egyptian football associations lack a clear vision of the future of sports. Ahead of the World Cup semi-finals game between France and Belgium, photos of some sports magazines issued in Belgium a long time ago were circulated on social media networks showing some young players who were predicted to lead the Red Devils in the future.
The photos featured many nowadays stars of Belgium, such as Edin Hazard, who has become one of the most important players in the national team and even the world.
Egypt also has many young talents, therefore the question remains, why the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) does not develop a plan to sponsor those players and add new talents?
6- Comprehensive professional football
None of the training camps of the 32 teams participated in the World Cup has witnessed that number of problems experienced by the Egyptian team. It all started with the Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah’s conflict with the EFA’s and its sponsor over the unauthorised use of his image for advertising.
The problem lies in determining the side that owns the sponsorship rights of Salah and who has the right to permit the player to participate in advertising campaigns? Do the rights of the sponsoring company of the EFA conflict with the rights of the other companies sponsoring Salah?
Meanwhile, some players made TV interviews in their hotel rooms and the EFA did not react to such violation. Another problem erupted when photos of Salah with controversial Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov became a major talking point of the tournament. The team attended a banquet hosted by Kadyrov, who used the dinner to grant Salah an honorary citizenship. Kadyrov faces accusations of human rights violations, including abductions and killings.
The EFA seemed lacking professionalism basics, however a large number of Egyptian players currently play in major European leagues.
7- Marketing and investment
The competition in 2018 World Cup was not limited to football teams, but also extended to countries in terms of marketing and advertising.
The Russian people managed to deliver a good image of their culture throughout the tournament, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced, during a press conference before the World Cup final, that this edition was the best in the tournament’s history.
Marketing and investment in sports has become very vital in increasing countries’ incomes, of which many rely fundamentally on sports.
8- Attention to football elements
The football player is not the only important element in the game, but there are also referees, spectators, and others.
The World Cup witnessed the participation of 36 referees and 63 assistant referees, representing 46 different countries. Although these referees are very professional, some of them were dropped from the tournament, due to committing some violations.
FIFA was keen to conduct several physical tests of the selected referees to assure their readiness for the competition.
9- Commitment to contracts
Spain have had the most turbulent possible build up to their World Cup opener against Portugal, as their coach Julen Lopetegui has been sacked just two days before the tournament. Real Madrid announced that Lopetegui, who had only recently extended his contract with Spain, would take over as their coach next season. The Spanish football federation (RFEF) then said that Lopetegui would leave his job with Spain.
In the Egyptian league, we easily find a coach who leaves a team to take charge of another hours later.
10- TV production
Everyone watches football games on TV, but no one knows about the process details of TV production.
In the Egyptian league, you may be surprised that the game’s director focuses on some fans in the stadium, while there is a dangerous strike on the pitch.
TV production became one of the reasons that attract fans to watch the game, while Egyptian channels only focus on preparing studios for boring football analysts.
