Defensive mistakes do not worry Soukup

الجمعة، 25 سبتمبر 2009 - 06:06

كتب : وكالات

Alexandria - Ahmad Saied

Egypt's U-20 team committed many defensive errors against Trinidad and Tobago in their opening World Cup encounter but coach Miroslav Soukup is not really worried.

The tournament hosts kicked off their campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory over Trinidad and Tobago, with Hossam Arafat scoring twice and strike duo Mohamed Talaat and Afroto notching one goal apiece.

Trinidad created several clear-cut chances late in the game which could have helped them narrow the gap after some defensive lapses.

Their sole goal came in the first half when central defender Salah Soliman failed to clear the danger to allow Jean Luc Rochford to fire home from inside the area.

"It is understandable because the players played in front of a large crowd for the first time in their career," Soukup told the post-match press conference.

"If we don't commit defensive mistakes we will win the World Cup."

The young Pharaohs had their fair share of missed goalscoring opportunities. Striker Mohamed Talaat in particular was guilty of missing a number of golden chances.

"We had problems in the final third," Soukup, who led his native Czech Republic to a second-place finish in the 2007 U-20 World Cup, added.

"I can't teach the players how to apply the finishing touch, they are born with such capabilities."

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