The passage highlights the struggles of the Egyptian national football team, also known as the Pharaohs, particularly in the context of recent defeats and challenges faced by the team. Here are the key points:
- Recent Defeats: Egypt suffered a 3-1 defeat to Qatar in an international friendly match in Doha. This loss marks the team’s fourth consecutive defeat.
- Poor Form with Bob Bradley: The team’s poor form is attributed to the period under the management of American coach Bob Bradley. The difficulties are exacerbated by the crisis in Port Said, where several lives have been lost.
- Crisis Period: The passage mentions that Egypt is going through a period of crisis, likely referring to both the on-field struggles and the off-field issues in Port Said.
- Upcoming Match: Despite the recent setbacks, Egypt is scheduled to face Zimbabwe on March 26 as part of the third day of the preliminaries for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
- Previous Defeats: The passage outlines the sequence of defeats, including losses to Chile (2-1), Ivory Coast (4-2), and Ghana (3-0) in international friendly matches.
- Absence from African Cup of Nations: The passage notes that Egypt and its team, including player Aboutreka, had missed the two previous editions of the African Cup of Nations.
The challenges faced by the Egyptian national team are evident, and the passage provides a snapshot of their recent struggles on the international football stage. It’s important to note that the situation in sports is dynamic, and the team’s performance and circumstances may change over time.
