The Egypt Vs Algeria Match: Why is it such a big deal?

Unlike the Sandmonkey, I love football. But never before have I been so pissed off by the way the Egyptian state controlled media machine handled a game.

OK it is an important game and the FIFA World Cup is the second biggest international sports event after the Olympics, but in the end isn't it just a soccer game? Maybe not.

The world cup will be in June 2010 and in that same month the Egyptian parliamentary elections will be held. The participation of the Egyptian team in the world cup would present a perfect distraction from all the bullshit that is going on and would make us all feel good.

The Egyptian media is trying desperately hard to turn this match into a patriotic orgi. An event that will unify all Egyptians and give them hope and confidence. Mubarak attended a team training session and Egyptian TV is awash with patriotic songs played with soccer video and images of Mubarak and his son and heir apparent Gamal. What is the link between Gamal and the World Cup? I don't know.

I never thought I would say this: I want Egypt to lose.

Update: I was kidding. Didn't really mean it. I am happy we won the Cairo match :)))

Update: Algeria won in Sudan but both sides are assholes and this is not football