by Wael Naguib

    CAIRO, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- At a cafe in Al-Kasr el-Eni street of downtown Cairo just one day before the most important soccer match between Egypt and Algeria on Saturday, which would determine who will play in next year's World Cup to be held in South Africa, sat Hussin and his friend Mohamed, talking about the tactics Egyptian team will adopt the next day.

    "I hope that our team will win the match," said Hussin, a 28-year-old engineer who was watching a sports analysis program on TV.

    Most of the Egyptian fans are nervous as even a two-goal victory by Egypt will bring a playoff with Algeria in Sudan as a neutral site. Several hours ahead of the match, nerves are frayed in the two countries.

    Egyptians have not played in the World Cup since 1990, so the people hope their team can grab this last chance and achieve a glorious victory over Algeria.

    "I have told my mother to pray for the Egyptian team," said Mohamed, a 30 year-old doctor.

    Cairo's streets are full of slogans and flags to support the Pharaoh's team, some of which are specially for Abu-Treika, the most popular player in Egypt.

    "I will take Saturday off to watch the match," said Karim, a night shift worker.

    Meanwhile, there is another battle going on, which has started early between the fans of the two sides on the Internet, especially in social networks such as the Facebook, where they attacked each other with words.

    There are also media efforts to calm the tensions which have been growing between Egyptian and Algerian soccer fans ahead of the showdown.

    "They are also Arabs, and it is just sports, all is but winning or losing a game," said Ibrahim, a 40-year-old businessman.

    "We should support the Egyptian team, but if we lose this match, we will support the Algerian team in the World Cup as an Arab and African team," said Eman, a 42 year-old housewife.

    Unexpectedly, the match also undermined mixed marriage. On Monday an Egyptian wife left home due to a dispute with her Algerian husband over who would win in the match.

    Politically, the foreign ministries of both sides are trying to tame the situation.

    Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman said there were cooperation between the two sides to ensure that the competition, no matter how intense, would not affect the relationship between the two countries and peoples.

    For its part, the Algerian Foreign Ministry called on the media to maintain "sportsmanship" and "brotherly spirit" ahead of the game.

    Usually, the Egyptian authorities will take special measures on traffic and security to prevent any possible violence between the fans of both teams.

    "I feel that Egypt will win the match, and I hope so," said Mohamed, raising his right hand to the sky.