CAIRO: Over the course of Bob Bradley's helm with the United States national team, success came often, advancing to the final of the Confederations Cup in 2009 and the second round of the World Cup in 2010, but both performances left Americans with an odd taste. Major success was so close, but somehow the Americans blew it. Many called for Bradley's head following a “should have won” second round exit to Ghana – the same nation that ousted the Americans four years earlier in the group stage – but the US Soccer Federation chose to keep the stalemate of American soccer on board. Then, in July, the US found themselves up two goals to a fast and talented Mexican team in the Gold Cup finals. Relinquishing that lead seemed too easy and the Americans were outplayed in the final 70 minutes, giving up four goals. It looked too easy and Bradley was rightfully blamed for his inability to maintain the high level. Unlike previous matches where the US starts slow, this time they started fast and then ended dismally. It was the final straw that led to his firing and Jurgen Klinsmann's ascension to the top American soccer job. But Bradley has a new job: Egypt's national team. The move couldn't be a better fit. Bradley's structured game plan and defensive style could do wonders for an Egyptian team full of talent, but has somehow missed out on the sport's greatest stage: the World Cup. Egypt can attack well and has the speed to compete with the world's top countries, as evidenced by the 2009 Confederations Cup victory over Italy in South Africa and a near draw versus Brazil. What Bradley brings to Egypt's squad is discipline and endurance, two aspects that have largely been Egypt's undoing in recent times. Many Egyptians worry that the final quarter of match will bring a flurry of goals from the opposition and send Egypt packing with a draw or loss. The reason has been mainly a result of poor conditioning and a lack of discipline. For all Hassan Shehata's success and helping lead Egypt to two consecutive continental titles, he couldn't muster a victory when they needed it, losing to Algeria in late 2009 and watching the World Cup from his living room. Bradley's success with the Americans may not have been as great as many fans would have liked to see, but two things he did achieve that will help move Egypt into a top caliber squad: he wins the games when need – think Algeria in the World Cup, think Gold Cup this past summer when the US were stunned by Panama in the group stage, and ultimately, the three goal demolition of Egypt in the 2009 Confederations Cup showed Bradley's resolve. Second, his conditioning regimen is unlike any other. Nobody could ever say the Americans didn't have enough energy to finish a game. Here in Egypt, too often we have heard “the players didn't have enough juice left” and this was the cause for giving up late goals. It is an unlikely marriage, Egypt and Bradley, but one that could do wonders to the Egyptian, and American, game. Bringing a manager into Cairo with such a dramatically different style than the one Egypt has been playing could be a boost to a country that hasn't been to a World Cup since 1990. This could change, but in the end it depends on the players willingness to buy into the new coach's system. If they do, Egypt could soon forget the past couple of years and regain its statue as the top African country and be getting on a plane in 2014, heading to Brazil. BM
