Best Thing Since King Tut

As has become common for me lately, I tend to miss the games I really want to watch. This time though I had a plan to rewatch it later. After abstaining from the internet for a whole day, I was ready to take in the mighty US Soccer team against Brazil. There had been DVR, plans to get together to watch the game, and then....technology hell broke loose.

The DVR who supposedly had held the game in its memory did not indeed actually have the game. Luckily, ESPN2 would replay the game at the hour of 12:30 am, or so my TV said. After admitting defeat toward my work day the following morning I decided I would show support for my country and watch the full 90, no matter what. After fighting fatigue for a solid two hours through the support of flipping back and forth between American Pie 2 and Grandma's Boy -- the usual dose of 11 PM Sportscenter was out of the question with the bottom line and such -- I set up an elaborate contraption consisting of small end table and a large floor mat that covered the bottom part of of my television so the score did not flash up on the bottom line while the game was only in the 6th minute or so. I was ready.

12:30 came, the channel was flipped, and what the hell is this? The 46th minute of Italy v. Egypt? This is not what I ordered. As my fatigue confined me to my couch I watched what turned out to be the greatest games in Egyptian history.

(As for the USA game, it will stay confined to parenthetical commenting. A 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Brazil described by Alexi Lalas as the US playing like they "didn't belong on the same field as Brazil." Brazil scored 6 minutes in, the 3rd time in the last 4 US games a goal was conceded in the first 6 minutes, really a solid month of June for American soccer. I think we might need to work on defense just a little before the next potential trip to South Africa)

The game that actually was on more than deserved the billing as the post-midnight headliner. Egypt was already up 1-0 after a first half on a Mohamed Homos (laugh at the name, uncivilized Americans, you know you want to do it) header off a corner from Egyptian legend Mohamed Aboutrika.

Still, the US also led Italy 1-0 at break before a 3-0 second half for the Azzurri started a 0-6 135 minutes of soccer for the Americans. The Pharohs (that is not a joke at the Egyptians cultural tradition, that's their REAL nickname. That alone is reason to root for them) played with a fire the US didn't have in them and turned away every attack and chance the Italians had. Italy dominate the last 45 minutes of play -- Egypt with only 1 or 2 real chances and a handful of half chances -- but were turned away at every turn. Giuseppe Rossi, Luca Toni and Simone Pepe were stonewalled less by a stout back line -- the Egyptian defense had a fair number of lapses -- and more by inspired play the veteran keeper, Essam El-Hadary.

El-Hadary had 6 saves including multiple wide-open shots from well within the 18. He deflected one shot with his leg as he slid out on a point-blank effort. Only a few minutes later El-Hadary was tested again as he just got a glove to a laser at his right post that he covered despite protests that it went over the line from the Italians (sounds almost like Hockey, huh?). He played with reckless abandon and after his first save of the second half just seemed like it would take something crazy to beat him.

The entire Egyptian team broke down after whistle made their victory official, the first ever by an African team against Italy. The Egyptian team really impressed me. For a team ranked so well by FIFA (as high as 15 in 2009, currently 40) they fielded a team for the Confederations Cup that only included included 4 players who don't currently play in Egypt. Even El-Hadry regreted his move to Basel after 12 years and 510 games at Al-Ahly.

Aboutrika is the pinnacle of that loyalty. Despite having offers from clubs all over Europe he has remained in Egypt and at his Cairo-based club Al-Ahly to the tune of 367 appearances. "He is arguably the best footballer on Earth not plying his trade in Europe or South America," wrote one Italian journalist covering the Confederations cup; and that was before his native sons fell victim to him. He was such a great figure in the Egyptian sports culture that when one of my friends went to Egypt he knew he had to go see an Al-Ahly game. Forget the Pyramids, I'm going to see Aboutrika.

Egypt currently sits fourth in their group for World Cup qualifying for their possible return to South Africa and will likely need a win Sunday to advance in the Confederations Cup, but right now I don't think anyone in Egypt cares. All I know is now I can wear my Al-Ahly jersey with pride. And you never know, somebody just might know what it is.