Today will most probably mark the final day of Bob Bradley as Egypt manager. After losing the first leg 6-1 to Ghana, Bradley and his Egyptian team have an opportunity to hold their heads high today by getting a respectable result. It would be a miracle for them to win it by the 5-0 margin they need to qualify for World Cup 2014, but even if they draw or lose, Egypt needs to play well in front of their home crowd.
Egypt came so heartbreakingly close to their first World Cup since 1990 in a time of dangerous divide, hardship and war. For some, the World Cup was a gleaming light at the end of a tunnel of pain and oppression and violence.
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But after Egypt, led remarkably and bravely by American coach Bob Bradley, lost 6-1 to African powerhouse Ghana in the first leg of their playoff, the road back is near-unreadable. Egypt would have to win 5-0 to go through.
And this Egypt team, mostly employing players who don’t have a domestic league since Egypt’s league was shut down, looked like deer in the headlights against Ghana, who ripped them apart for 90 minutes. It was a dream game for the Black Stars, who appear headed to their third straight World Cup. After making the knockout round and then quarterfinals last time, Ghana is on pace for the semifinals.
Bradley most likely has just 90 minutes left in his Egypt coaching career. Turning around this tie would be his biggest miracle yet.
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