Egypt national team coach, Hossam Hassan, expressed his sadness over the team’s 2-1 loss yesterday, to Brazil, in the last friendly match before the start of the FIFA World Cup, but he stressed that he was satisfied with the players’ performance despite the defeat.
Bruno Guimaraes opened the scoring for Brazil after taking advantage of a defensive error, to retrieve the ball and put it into the net calmly in the seventh minute, but Egypt quickly equalized in the 11th minute through Mostafa Abdel Raouf (Zico).
Brazil pressed fiercely in the second half, and substitute Indrik succeeded in scoring the winning goal in the 52nd minute.
Hassan said in the press conference after the match: “I do not like losing, and I am sad about the defeat against Brazil, even though they are one of the biggest teams in the world.”
He added: “We faced a strong and distinguished team in the last match before the World Cup.”
Egypt will begin its campaign in Group G of the World Cup against Belgium, on the 15th of this month, before facing New Zealand and then Iran.
Hassan added, “Belgium’s first match in the World Cup is very difficult, and the group is strong and intertwined.”
He also praised the level of Zico, who scored his second goal with the Egyptian national team in his second match with the team, after scoring the goal of a 1-0 victory over Russia in the last friendly match.
He said, “I am happy with Zico’s performance, and I expect more from him.” I am always looking for the best players to support the team, and we miss Islam Issa and Mohamed Hamdi due to injury. There are many distinguished players, but I include the right player for the team and the matches according to each stage.”
Captain Mohamed Salah, who spent his last season with Liverpool, participated in the second half after recovering from injury.
The Egypt coach, who participated with the team as a player in the 1990 World Cup, added: “Salah underwent a rehabilitation program with Liverpool and then with the national team, and he is now ready for the matches.”
He continued, “I am happy with the team’s recent experiences, after wins over Saudi Arabia and Russia, and a draw with Spain.”
