Egypt secures a draw against Spain in the opening game of the group

CAIRO-22 July 2021: Egypt U-23 national team achieved an important point in the Pharaohs' opening game of Tokyo Olympic Games. 

 

The Pharaohs stuck to the 3-5-2 formation that Shawki Gharib's men used in their journey to the Olympics. The team's senior trio Mohamed El Shenawy, Ahmed Hegazi and Mahmoud Hamdy El Wensh started the game, forming a solid defensive line alongside Osama Galal. 

 

Spain dominated most parts of the game but they failed to create clear chances in the first half other than a fantastic long-distance shot from Dani Ceballos but it his the post. 

 

In the second half, Gharib made a tactical change as well as many attacking substitutions and the red jerseys started to have more time in the Spanish territory. 

 

Spain had two clear chances in the last 10 minutes of the game; the first was cleared by El Wensh and the other one was stopped by El Shenawy. 

 

"We faced the European champions and of course I am happy with the result. We did not play well in the first half and we lost the ball many times but we were better in the second half and started to play more in their half." Gharib said after the game. 

 

Egypt will face Argentina in the next game of the group while Spain will face Australia, who surprised the group after a fantastic victory over the Albicelestes.