عمر عبد العزيز

The Egypt-Algeria feud

It's easy for an Egyptian to point finger at Algerian media and vice-versa. However, the press at both ends is evidently handling the situation dismally.<br> <br>
الثلاثاء، 27 أكتوبر 2009 - 23:07
It's easy for an Egyptian to point finger at Algerian media and vice-versa.

However, the press at both ends is evidently handling the situation dismally.

If there is a fresh feud of any kind between Egypt and Algeria at the moment, which will definitely influence next month's crunch qualifier, then the immature media is fully responsible.

The World Cup is an incredible event and the upcoming clash is immensely significant for this generation of players.

Yes, it is a cracking derby match between two nations with no lost love between them when it comes to territorial challenges like this one.

And yes it will be heartbreaking for the losing side while the winners will celebrate for months.

But at the end this is a football game where one team will qualify and the other will try again four years later.

If the media has any role to play in this match, then let it be a useful one, not the type of coverage where a reporter abuses his position to spread out his silly thoughts.

With more than 30 days between the last round of qualifiers and the November finale, we have seen every type of intimidation ahead of the decisive tie.

Provoking articles, biased stories and fabricated interviews symbolize the needless pre-match hype around the 'game'.

It is also terrible to see some players embroiling in such a war of words because professionals should keep away from the off-pitch heat.

And for the same reason, a reporter has to set his own preference apart from his job.

With a neutral view to the situation, the last thing Algerians need is provoking their opposition, simply because they are in a better stance.

On the other hand, Egypt won't score three clean goals by just replying to a minority of self-centered intimidations, in a childish attempt to drag fear into the heart of their visitors.