Predicting Egypt vs. Cote D'Ivoire Scoreline (You're not going to like this)

I think Cote D'Ivoire will be beat us 2-1. We're going to start strong with a lot of enthusiasm and effort but not a lot of savvy or good football. From their first meaningful attack, they'll score a goal which will suck the enthusiasm out of the 100,000 capacity crowd (which we all know is about 72,000 anyway). Egypt will revert to it's tried and tested nervousness and inability to respond to a crisis. The first half will end with us trailing 1-0.

Second half, Egypt will pour forward with numbers and push to save face. I expect around the 20th minute, we're going to score an equaliser, possibly through Hossam Hassan. Then, having used up all our initiative and (nervous) energy, we'll slow down, launch the occasional attack but basically play for extra time. The Ivorians will get progressively more dangerous and then, two minutes before time, Didier Drogba will set up Didier Zokora for the winning goal.

Nine minutes later (seven extra minutes of extra time), the referee will ignore several of our laughable penalty appeals and call time. Our players will sink to the grass in despair, the crowds will bay for blood and the Ivorians will dance with joy.

The newspapers will criticize the players (special scathing criticism will be reserved for Mido), absolve Shehata from any blame and say that the referee missed a critical penalty appeal. Mubarak will not acknowledge the tournament, not even to thank the players and their coach for the effort, since he can only be associated with success, not failure. ("I share success but failure is on you").

After months of no football, our world cup campaign will start with a draw and a loss and Shehata will be fired. Fortunately, El Gohary's contract with the Jordanaians will have just expired..