Egyptians don’t care who Bob Bradley is. And that’s progress.

Egyptians don’t care who Bob Bradley is. And that’s progress.

Egyptians don’t care who Bob Bradley is. And that’s progress.

image

By Eric Beard

In the ever-elusive environment that is African football, Egypt are the winners. They may not be the best, but they’re winners. They may not have the talent to match the Ivory Coast or Ghana, but the 7-time winners of the African Cup of Nations won’t back down against anybody. That’s precisely why if you’re an Egyptian football fan, these past few months (and even years) have been rough as can be. Egypt’s success on the continent has been nothing more than a tease for those hoping to see the best of African football on the world’s stage. Winning back-to-back-to-back African Cup of Nations in 2006, 2008, and 2010, their failure to perform on the biggest stages in international football has left even the most passionate supporters incredulous.

Just two weeks ago, minnows Sierra Leone knocked Egypt out of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, so the Pharaohs can’t even defend their title. Before that? A failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Before that? A failure to advance out of the Group Stage of the 2009 Confederations Cup despite a brilliant 1-0 victory over Italy. Perhaps the Confederations Cup, as well as the objective values of motivation and a winning mentality, is where this story begins.

Needing nothing short of a 3-0 victory and a lot of help from Brazil in their match against Italy, Bob Bradley had his work cut out for him, to say the least. With two detestable performances against Italy and Brazil, the interim US Men’s National Team manager had his job on the line. And somehow, through grit, determination, and individual skill from Charlie Davies, Michael Bradley, and Clint Dempsey, the Americans made Africa’s finest look like Notts County. A nation was left absolutely stunned. Well, actually two nations were stunned.

Egypt exited, but Bob Bradley’s men marched on with a famous win against Spain followed by a final that forced the very best out of Brazil. Bob Bradley had made a lasting impression. Two summers later, US Soccer opted for Jurgen Klinsmann to take American soccer forward and Bob Bradley was left with only his results to his name. Flowing football was never on Bob’s resumé, but to some nations results mean everything.

American or not, the Egyptian FA saw exactly what Bob Bradley could offer. Egyptian football is at its lowest point in years, just as US Soccer was when Bob was appointed in 2006 after crashing out of the World Cup. Egypt’s objectives are clear. Qualify for the next African Cup of Nations in two years and qualify for the damn World Cup. African World Cup qualifying is a whole different beast to what the US were faced with, but make no mistake, it can’t get much worse than a soggy, bumpy pitch in El Salvador, the booming atmosphere in Costa Rica, or a loathsome trip to the Azteca.

Clint Dempsey may be at Fulham. Jozy Altidore may be at AZ Alkmaar. José Torres may be in Pachuca. But Bob Bradley accepting the challenge to coach Egypt, with unimaginable pressure pounding on him before every single match, has expanded the boundaries of American soccer one step further. With such faith coming from the most unlikely of cultural climates, let’s just hope he gets the job done.