Video of the Week: Egypt survives at the death

Scenes of ecstatic disbelief exploded all over Egypt on Saturday, as Emad Moteab powered home a header from 8 yards to win 2-0 over Algeria in Cairo. Egypt went into the game needing a 2-goal win in order to avoid being knocked out of the World Cup, and after Amr Zaki's 2' goal, they had to wait until the 5th minute injury time to score the crucial second goal.

Extraordinarily, that goal meant that Egypt and Algeria finish with identical records: 13 points (4W, 1D, 1L), nine goals scored, four goals conceded. The two sides are even tied on head-to-head record, due to Algeria's 3-1 win in the reverse fixture. Almost nothing separates these two sides.

As a result, FIFA has ordered the two teams to play a near-unprecedented one-match playoff, in neutral Sudan on Wednesday. Nothing is ever easy for the Egyptians, so Wednesday's match is surely going to be one hell of a spectacle.

Wow. Go USA!

Well, go ahead and call me an idiot for assuming that the "nearly impossible" meant "impossible". I plan on writing a full retrospective about the team once the tournament is over, but let me just say it now for immediate effect: this team has unbelievable heart. The fightback against Egypt definitely ranks as one of the best "I can't believe this is happening, but I love it" moments in recent memory. This spirit doesn't solve all of our problems, but it is almost indescribably beautiful to watch such an intangible quality at work.

I'll leave the team summary to the retrospective, but let me write one sentence each about individual players from this game. In no particular order:

Charlie Davies has the scrappiness needed in front of goal to play at this level.

Clint Dempsey should focus more on simple play than his fancy tricks.

Michael Bradley and Benny Feilhaber are the two best playmakers that the USA has.

Landon Donovan still has the pace and skill to make things happen, but he needs to be more selfish in front of goal.

Conor Casey has no place on this team when Brian Ching is healthy.

Ricardo Clark has proven that he is vital to this team as a holding midfielder.

Freddy Adu needs a chance to prove himself on a bigger stage than underage teams and CONCACAF games, which he'll only get by playing regularly at club level.

The backline has incredible depth, and is capable of competing with the world's best when focused.

More than anything else, the team as a whole needs discipline in order to be a contender.

More to come after the next rounds.