Junior Pharaohs prepare for the world

 

AMSTERDAM (GoPharaohs.com) – Amid all the hoopla of World Cup qualifying, Egypt’s juniors prepare for battle at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.

An Egyptian national team finds itself in yet another ‘Group of Death’, on the heals of the senior squad’s last two African zone World Cup qualifying groups being dubbed the infamous moniker.

2001 champions Argentina join Egypt in the group phase for the second time in the last three tournaments. European giants Germany and up-and-comers USA comprise the rest of Group D.

The biennial event, which kicks-off June 10, will be the fifth time Egypt’s under-20 squad has taken part in the tournament. The Junior Pharaohs previously partook in the 1981, 1991, 2001, and 2003 editions.

Egypt’s best-ever standing came in Argentina in 2001, where they finished third.

Egypt’s first match is Saturday against Germany. Egypt face Argentina on Tuesday before wrapping up the group phase against the United States June 18.

Africa’s other representatives include debutants Beinin, African under-20 champions Nigeria, and Morocco.

Egypt’s squad includes seven players from Cairo giants Al-Ahly.