CAIRO - Egyptian fans were in despondent mood after the friendly against Brazil in Doha on Monday night, but soccer experts argued that the game was not a measure of the Egyptian team under its new US coach, Bob Bradley. Mahmoud Bakr, one soccer expert, said that, in terms of performance, the Brazilians were perhaps playing with their second team, while the Egyptian team were ‘out of service'. Bakr added that, regardless of the result, the Egyptians have learned much from this game. "We have discovered Ahmed el-Shenawi, a new goalkeeper who can play between the sticks for the team for many years," commented Bakr, pointing out that the national team has also discovered defenders Ahmed Hegazi and Mohamed Nassef. Brazil defeated Egypt 2-0 thanks to goals from striker Jonas Oliviera, who scored his first international goals on either side of half-time. The World Cup 2014 hosts Brazil had beaten Gabon the previous Thursday 2-0 in a friendly in the Gabon capital Libreville. Bakr also noted that midfielder Ahmed Hassan equalled the world record for the most international appearances, earning his 178th cap. The 36-year-old shares this record with Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Mohamed al-Deayea, who last played in 2006. "Three training sessions are not enough to prepare for a team like Brazil," Bakr concluded. Fathi Nosseir, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) technical adviser, explained that the game was useful for the new coaching staff in terms of identifying the potential of the players. “Bradley must now look to the future and start building a strong team. The coaching staff must remedy the mistakes and build on the positives which are many," added Nosseir, describing the positives as including the performances of el-Shenawi, Hegazi and Nassef. "These talented shooting stars are young, so there's still time to hone then.” Bradley, meanwhile, said this tough game has endowed him with a fuller picture of the national team. "We will carry on what we have started, in order to reach our goal," he said after the game. 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. He guided the US team through the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but they lost in the second round to Ghana after drawing with England in the group stage. Bradley's main task is to take Egypt to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, in what would be Egypt's third overall appearance and the first in 24 years. "We are trying to build a strong new team and to develop the talents of our players through our training," the 53-year-old coach added. "We should not be pessimistic because the road is long and the choice of players was only for this match against Brazil.” Bradley stressed that only technically and physically capable players will turn out for their countries. "Ahmed el-Shenawi was better prepared than Essam el-Hadari, which is why he participated." EFA Chairman Samir Zaher said that this game against a tough team will help the new coaching staff to get everything in focus. "The match against Brazil, 'the Selecao', will help Bradley create a better vision and build a strong new team," Zaher stressed after the game. Providentially for the Pharaohs, the Brazilian team missed some of their shooting stars such as Kaka, Robinho and Neymar; otherwise they would probably have conceded far more goals. The coaching staff have asked Zaher to play two or three friendlies during the local league stoppage. The Premier League has now been put on hold for about the next six weeks, as the Egyptian Olympic team will be playing in the African Under-23 Championship, which is a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics. According to sources, Egypt's senior national team is due to play a friendly against Uzbekistan on December 2. "Bradley needs everyone's support," said Zaher, urging the Egyptian fans to give him time to prepare a strong team for the future. Ahmed Soleiman, the Zamalek goalkeeping coach, said that Ahmed el-Shenawi has shown he is ready to succeed veteran goalkeeper Essam el-Hadari. Hamada Sedki, Egypt's former assistant coach, said that Bradley cannot be judged on the strength of one game alone. "It's his first game with the team and he only met the players a few days before the match," said Sedki. Tareq Yehia, Zamalek's ex-coach, was surprised that the Egyptian players “lacked ability, concern and enthusiasm”. "I think someone like Mohamed Abou Treika should have been playing on Monday night.”
