CASABLANCA:
Egypt is perhaps dissatisfied with failure to achieve the Africa Cup of Nations ultimate however coach Hossam Hassan stated on Friday it had been expertise forward of the World Cup later this 12 months.
Egypt misplaced in Wednesday’s semi-final to Senegal in Tangier however on Saturday will play Nigeria for the bronze medal on the match in Morocco.
“It has been superb preparation for us, we have tried a number of techniques of play all through the match and performed in opposition to various kinds of opponents,” Hassan stated.
“We got here near the ultimate however that is soccer,” he stated of the 1-0 loss to Senegal.
“Total, I am happy with all that occurred and what we achieved. We now have workforce. We had been away from house and didn’t have a variety of supporters.”
The match in opposition to Nigeria could be one other alternative to organize for the World Cup, he added.
Egypt play in Group G with Belgium first up in Seattle on June 15, New Zealand in Vancouver on June 21 and Iran on June 26 again in Seattle.
Hassan stated Egypt may need fallen brief due to a scarcity of gamers at prime golf equipment in Europe, in distinction to the 2 finalists Morocco and Senegal whose squads are full of gamers at prime European groups.
“Gamers based mostly in Europe acquire higher tactical acumen and develop into bodily a lot stronger, and we want that added worth to make us higher,” he stated.
Egypt’s 28-man squad had solely three gamers based mostly in Europe – captain Mohamed Salah from Liverpool, Omar Marmoush from Manchester Metropolis and Mostafa Mohamed from Nantes in Ligue 1.
“I feel tomorrow’s sport provides us an opportunity to proceed preparations, however we at all times wish to win. Egypt at all times performs to win, we’re a workforce who’ve received seven Cup of Nations prior to now,” Hassan stated.
“We are going to consider after the competitors the place we have to enhance. We are going to research the constructive factors so as to be a lot better in each defence and assault,” he added.
