Sport is politics, whether we like it or not, and some of the goodwill generated by President Barack Obama's recent visit to and speech in Cairo Egypt will now be muted as a revived US Men's National Soccer team crushed the hopes of millions of Egyptians by defeating Egypt's Pharaohs 3-0 Sunday in Rustenberg, South Africa at the Confederations Cup, a warm-up tournament for the 2010 World Cup.
The improbable result, coupled with a Brazilian rout of Italy by the same score catapulted the Yanks, coached by an under-fire Bob Bradley, into a semi-final and sent both the Egyptians and the Italians to the airport and home. Odds were against the Americans advancing as they had lost 3-1 to Italy (with two goals scored by Guiseppe Rossi, an Italian-American born in Teaneck New Jersey who had turned his back on the states to play for his ancestral homeland and had earned his share of abuse from fanatic USA supporters - yes, we do exist) and a miserable display against Brazil were the USA, looking listless and star-struck, was crushed 3-0.
Egypt, the surprise of the tournament, had come close to tying Brazil only to give up an injury time penalty kick and lose 3-4, but then upset Italy 1-0.
The pre-match chatter on Arab sports blogs was rather nationalist and combative, as this excerpt from www.arabiya.net reveals
"Fans likened Egypt’s anticipated win against the U.S. soccer team to a victory over the world’s superpower as the two teams meet in South Africa in the last day of group play in the FIFA 2009 Confederations Cup.
Despite their ongoing rivalry with Egypt, Algerian soccer fans wished that Egypt "breaks the pride" of their U.S. rivals, in comments that shored up the mixing of sports and politics as some said that every goal scored against the U.S. team amounted to political victory over the "imperial tyrant."
Another sports blogger compared U.S. President Obama’s agility at smacking a fly during a televised interview with the famous Egyptian soccer player Abu Trekah, and his ability to take down any American soccer player.
"Obama will fail for sure if he took the chance and stood as goalkeeper against Abu Trekah or his team," the commentator said on a sport website. "Americans will lose at the hands of Egypt’s great team," he added.
Egypt's Pharaohs have shown already that they are more than capable of taking on the best as they scored their greatest ever victory with a thoroughly deserved 1-0 win on Thursday over world champions Italy who had never previously lost to an African team.
Sports forums and blogs were alight with enthusiastic fans who celebrated the win over Italy as a win over the West, dubbing Egyptian Mohammed Homs, who scored the coveted goal with his head, Egypt’s "national hero."
Instead the Pharoahs were humiliated by the Americans by the soccer equivalent of a 21-0 NFL rout. They went home amid allegations that five of them had brought prostitutes back to their hotel and then were robbed by them.
The USA now meets #1 Spain on Wednesday and while their chances look slim to none, again, anything can still happen. An improbable win by the Yanks would propel them into a final with Brazil again, but more likely will be a 3rd place appearance this weekend against host South Africa. Both matches will give coach Bradley a chance to prepare his team for big tournament in 2010. Already there are rumors that FIFA, the world football body, will rig the draw and place the USA in the same group as the recently qualified DPR Korea. That's Kim Jong-Il's North Korea. At least now we can rest assured that he won't push any buttons until after next Summer.
The USA will then next play a World Cup Qualifier against Mexico in Mexico City on Aug 12. This blogger will be there, come hell, Swine Flu or high water, sitting with perhaps 200-300 traveling American supporters surrounded by a cordon of Mexican riot police and 99,000 Mexicans in the cavernous Azteca Stadium. A USA win there for the first time would certainly set off a minor diplomatic incident, as the Mexican aficionadoswill do everything except congratulate the US away supporters.
President Bush actually called the US team to wish them good luck at the 2002 World Cup. This supporter is waiting for the day that our new President, a soccer supporter himself, makes his own inspirational telephone call to the coach and team.