CAIRO - Egypt's U-23 national team coach Hani Ramzi says that he has now decided on the main line-up of the team, stressing that the Toulon Friendly International Tournament has helped him greatly to crystallise his choice, before they travel to London to participate in the Olympic Games from July 27 to August 12. Ramzi stresses that his side benefited from the friendly tournament, despite their early exit, adding that the Young Pharaohs put on well in Toulon. "I am satisfied with the team's performance in the Toulon tournament, especially the Japan match, where the lads really showed their mettle," Ramzi said after the Japan match, which the Pharaohs won 3-2. The Olympic team played in the Toulon Friendly International Tournament from May 22 to June 3, with the participation of the Olympics teams from the Netherlands, Turkey, Japan, Belarus, Mexico, Morocco, France and, of course, Egypt. The Egyptian team who had been drawn in Group A, alongside Japan, the Netherlands and Turkey, were eliminated from the tournament despite beating Japan in their third match Sunday. They had lost their opener 3-0 to the Netherlands and then drew with Turkey 1-1 in the second match. "We showed what we were made of against Japan," Ramzi stressed, pointing out that the Y-Pharaohs learnt a lot from the tournament, as they faced sides with vastly different styles. He explained that the main aim of taking part in tournaments and playing many friendlies is to give the lads more experience in anticipation of the official games. "Of course, we want to get in good shape, so that we can put on a good show in London," he added, stressing that the Olympic team will hold a final preparation camp in Germany from July 12 to 22, after participating in the Arab Football Cup. For the Arab Football Cup, the Egyptian team have been drawn in Group C, along with Iraq, Sudan and Lebanon. Group A includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Palestine, while Group B includes Libya, Bahrain, Morocco and Yemen. Each team will receive $200,000, with the winners picking up $1 million and the runners-up $600,000. The Pharaohs have qualified for the Olympic Games for the first time since 1992, and Ramzi fully appreciates the daunting task facing him and his players. He is happy with the draw for the Olympics, made in Wembley Stadium in London at the end of last month, stressing that Egypt's group is really balanced. "Playing big teams like Brazil will be enjoyable and entertaining for the players and the coaches alike," he said, adding that he will study videos of other teams' games, in order to gauge their strengths and weaknesses. The Young Pharaohs are tied with Brazil, Belarus, and New Zealand in Group C. "We should not underestimate teams like Belarus, who have some great footballers, and New Zealand, whose style is like Australia's," Ramzi recently said. He stressed that playing Brazil in the first match of the Games will give the players a huge boost. Brazil won Olympic silver in 1984 and 1988, while picking up bronze in 1996. Egypt will face Brazil on July 26 in Cardiff, followed by New Zealand on July 29 in Manchester and then Belarus on August 1 in Glasgow. "Despite the cancellation of the Premier League and the difficulties this country is facing, we are determined to continue the training and camps abroad and at home, so the players will be fit and tactically prepared for London," he explained. On February 1, in the coastal city of Port Said, an Egyptian Premier League match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly turned violent, claiming the lives of at least 74 Ahly fans and injuring around 1,000 more. As a result, in early March, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) cancelled the Premier League 2011-12 season, and the Martyrs' Cup and Egypt Cup, after Al-Ahly Ultras groups threatened to cause trouble in the stadiums, if the tournament and the Egypt Cup went ahead before the perpetrators of the massacre in Port Said were punished. "It has been difficult for us to play friendly matches in Egypt in order to prepare well. That's why we've been holding preparation camps and playing friendlies abroad," Ramzi explained. The Y-Pharaohs' assistant coach Metem'd Gamal said that the trio Ahmed Eid, Emad Mete'b and Ahmed Fathi will probably be the three senior team players who will participate with the Olympic team in London. The coaching staff of the Y-Pharaohs have whittled down the list to five senior stars, from whom they will choose three for London. They are Mohamed Abou Treika, Amr Zaki and the above-mentioned trio. "The coaching staff will pick only three overage players, according to the rules," he explained.
