- Egypt set to play at their third FIFA World Cup
- Previous appearances came at Italy 1934 and Italy 1990
- Drawn in Group A with Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay
Hector Cuper is a happy man. You can sense it in his words, in his gestures and in the energy with which he shares his opinions. Then again, he has every reason to be, having guided Egypt to their first FIFA World Cup™ in 28 years and awarded the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Coach of the Year on 4 January.
But there is more to it than that. The veteran Argentinian coach, who has managed such storied clubs as Inter Milan and Valencia, seems to have found his true self once more at the helm of the Pharaohs, saying: “I’ve felt like a football coach again.”
But just how has he engineered this success in North Africa? The 62-year-old revealed the five things that helped his side reach Russia 2018 and which he hopes will enable them to play a major part in the tournament.
First humility, then everything else
“It’s been hugely satisfying to have found such a great bunch of players with so much humility. Nowadays, it’s tough to find that kind of thing in football, where everyone is a star or a celebrity. Yes there are stars here too, but the peculiarities and customs here have made me feel good. I’ve felt like a real football coach.
“Often when you try to convince someone of something, it is difficult, as players have certain idiosyncrasies and hierarchies. And yet, here humility and discipline have prevailed. That’s what has brought us success. It’s about the coexistence of those factors and everyone pulling in the same direction.”
