Egyptian and Algerian players have been exchanging fiery statements for several weeks in a psychological war that could well take a toll on the Pharaohs ahead of their decisive World Cup qualifier. The Algerians are seemingly convinced that they have already booked a place in the South Africa's finals, and now they are repeatedly gloating over it. But bragging about their qualification chances and describing their next month's trip to Egypt as 'joyful and entertaining' is not just out of their desire to tease their rivals. The Algerians ignited a heated verbal joust with an obvious intention to distract their opponents and shake their confidence weeks before the crucial qualifying game. Indeed Egypt are lagging behind in the lengthy race for the single World Cup ticket, with Algeria superior in points and goal difference. Hassan Shehata's men need to win the eagerly-anticipated match by a three-goal margin in order to guarantee a World Cup berth, which is considered to be a heavy burden on the African champions. Meanwhile, the Algerians are trying to show how relaxed and comfortable they are, pretending to be unfazed in order to demoralize Egypt.
The Algerians ignited a heated verbal joust with an obvious intention to distract their opponents and shake their confidence weeks before the crucial qualifying game. Skipper Ahmed Hassan got involved in the Algerians' silly game by releasing some inflammatory statements, which weren't in his team's best interest. A simple reply to the Algerian provocation would have been perfectly convenient; nonetheless, the Ahli veteran resorted to the same very tone the Desert Foxes are using. Stating that Cairo Stadium will turn into the 'stadium of horror' reflected how infuriated Hassan was, and that's exactly what the opposition wants. The 34-year-old's reaction was followed by another remark from Abdelkader Ghezzal, who played down Egypt's home advantage and underlined his ability to handle pressure. With several weeks left before the match, other similar comments are expected to be made by the Algerian players. More angry replies from the Egyptians would cause them to suffer an unnecessary distraction, while they need to fully concentrate on their pre-match preparations. The only convincing reply should be on the pitch. A 3-0 victory will shut the Algerians up once and for all.
