Yes. All the lower ranked teams had months to analyze, prepare and train players on an optimal strategy and tactical approach. While they may have analyzed and prepared an optimal strategy and tactical approach, they have not had months to train players for it for the 2nd and 3rd round matches.
Looks like he hasn't played since 2015-16. His most appearances in his career were with Colorado, second most with RBNY.
Whoa, Stu Holden just actually criticized something (Egypt's lack of attention on short corners). I'm not sure I've heard him do that more than once or twice.
Russia's defense isn't filling me with confidence. It's a good thing FIFA gave them such a weak group.
I felt the same way about Egypt's defense in the first 11 minutes. Up till then, I almost felt compelled to take a Serie A nap, as I thought Russia was gonna rip their opponent apart. For the last 6-7 minutes, it's been much more entertaining.
Pretty crazy when John Strong is promoting the next day's schedule of games and throws in the fact Mark Geiger is refereeing one of the matches tomorrow to encourage viewership. (Kind of sounds desperate when your national team doesn't qualify, you have to drop the name of a referee.... )
Think of it more as promoting chaos. Geiger is reffing, so there's bound to be lots of bizarre calls, controversy, etc. Who wouldn't want to watch that?
I have always liked the Egypt badge. Of course there is the pyramid, but the best is the soccer ball in the place of the sun, complete with rays spreading out. The significance there with Aton the Sun God is really cool.
Hmm, would it be the Aten or Amun (or Amun-Ra)? I'd be surprised if they intended for it to be the Aten, given the heresy of Amenhotep IV/ Akhenaten making the Aten the sole god of Egypt. Granted, the Aten is the physical sun disc, but still. (Don't mean to geek out here, I honestly don't know the symbolism behind the crest, so I'm honestly curious).
Several teams use what I would call "linked" heraldry to their religious traditions. Japan above, for example. Yatagarasu, the three-legged raven., bringing soccer to the people.
My point is that if it's the Aten, then the focus is on a roughly 25 year period of ancient Egyptian history out of roughly 3,400 years. That's why I wondered aloud if it's intended to be the Aten, or Amun (Amun-Ra), or perhaps neither. Again, I haven't read up on what it's supposed to mean. No worries though. Back to grading finals for me.
And there was much rejoicing in St Petersburg. Owen Goal striking again? Or is it D2UY84, with C3PO and R2D2 with the assists? Russia 1-0 Egypt
Ball game? Plenty of time for EGY to rally, but what a demoralizing goal to concede! Russia off to the Round of 16 if they can hold onto this.
Trivia, Imhotep (the Mummy in the picture) was actually the name of Djoser's architect who created the idea of the pyramid. Previously Egyptian kings (not pharaohs, as that term isn't used until Akhenaten in the New Kingdom) were buried in mud-brick platforms called mastabas. Imhotep decided to build Djoser's out of stone, and then put one on top of the other creating a step-pyramid, the forerunner of the Giza pyramids. More trivia, Ankh-sen-amun, the girlfriend in the Mummy movie, was actually Pharaoh Tutankhamun's sister/wife. (Ironically, Tut is often referred to as King Tut, when he was actually a Pharaoh).