CAIRO - Egypt's senior national team have finished their preparations for their international friendly tonight against Brazil, five-time World Cup champions, at Al-Rayyan Stadium in Doha, Qatar at 7pm (Cairo local time). Egypt's new coach US, Bob Bradley, is optimistic ahead of his first match with the Pharaohs, describing the game as an "important and great challenge". “We are ready for this tough, crucial game. We know how difficult it is, but it will be a big game worthy of the two teams,” Bradley said prior to his side's clash against Brazil, 'the Selecao'. Bradley added that he has confidence in the players to put on a good show. "I have full trust in the players' potential to handle this big clash," the ex-US coach added, stressing that he is proud of the Egyptians and proud to be their coach. "Our mission against Brazil is a major challenge for the players and they're definitely up to it. We will try to come away with a positive result that will help us in the future," the 53-year-old coach explained. Bradley took over as coach of the US in 2007, after being taken on as interim coach when the Americans struggled in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. “The players have the ability to perform well and please the fans," said Bradley, pointing out that the Pharaohs will try “to handle the game properly". Bradley guided the US team through the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, also in South Africa, but they lost in the second round to Ghana after drawing with England in the group stage. "The game against Brazil is a major challenge, but my goal is also to prepare the players well for what is coming," he added. According to some sources, Bradley's game plan is to pressure the Samba boys along the length of the playground, while also making swift counterattacks. Bradley has also held one-on-one sessions with some of the players with the aim of motivating them to play a good game, which will also please the large Egyptian community in Doha. The Pharaohs' coaching staff watched the Brazil match against Gabon to better gauge their opponents. The World Cup 2014 hosts Brazil defeated Gabon on Thursday 2-0 in a friendly in the Gabon capital Libreville. Tottenham midfielder Sandro opened the scoring for the Samba boys in the 12th minute, while Lazio midfielder Hernanes made it two, 10 minutes before the break. Egypt's right-winger Ahmed Fathi said that he and his teammates will do their best to provide great soccer and achieve a decent result. His team-mate Walid Soliman agrees, describing the game as a 'difficult' one against a strong team, but they'll all do their best. Egypt last met Brazil in the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa in 2009, where they played a great 90 minutes, only to suffer a very narrow 4-3 defeat. Egypt's striker Dodi el-Gabbas is delighted to be included in the national squad for the Brazil game, hoping that the Pharaohs can do something good for their country. "Bradley has made me feel confident and I hope to do well if I play," el-Gabbas told el-Youm el-Sabea website. "Facing a big team like Brazil is good for us and we plan to make the most of the fixture," the Belgium Lierse SK striker added. Bradley announced a 22-member squad for the game that has now been reduced to only 20 players, after late injuries to defender Abdel-Shafei and striker Amr Zaki. Brazil coach Mano Menezes, meanwhile, sees the game against the Pharaohs tonight as different from the Gabon game. "It will be difficult, a tough test for us," Menezes (49) stressed, adding that his side will do their very best. Brazil defender Thiago Silva agrees that the game won't be easy, as the Egyptian side are well organised. "It won't be easy, as the Egyptian team have reached a high technical level. There are no easy games in football nowadays," Silva said ahead of the clash. AC Milan defender Thiago Silva stressed that the Egyptian side are well organised and dangerous on the counterattack, although he thinks the Brazilians will have the edge if they listen to the coaching staff. The Selecao are hoping to finish the year on a high note against the African Cup of Nations champions. The Egyptian squad: Goalkeepers: Ahmed el-Shenawi, Essam el-Hadari, Mohamed Sobhi. Defenders: Ahmed Ouka, Wael Gomaa, Mahmoud Fathallah, Ahmed Fathi, Ahmed Hegazi, Ahmed el-Mohamadi, Mohamed Nassef. Midfielders: Ahmed Hassan, Hosni Abd-Rabou, Walid Soleiman, Abdullah el-Said, Hossam Ghali, Mahmoud Abdel-Razeq ‘Shikaballah', Ibrahim Salah. Strikers: Mohamed Zidan, Dodi el-Gabbas, Emad Mete'b.
