Why is everyone defending Egypt?

[Havenorlia]

I watched that match in a packed pub and even the diehard champs fans were clapping when Egypt scored, you could feel the whole room shift. It's just rare to see an underdog play that clean and still push so hard without any drama.

[zyxarique]

I think it is partly the "heartbreaking" narrative that OP mentioned, people love a tragic hero more than a dominant winner sometimes

[vorosick]

I mean they played well yeah but calling it heartbreaking feels a bit over the top, the champs just had more quality when it really mattered and that's not exactly a robbery.

[mikabt9pqi]

tbh egypt gave the champs a real scare and that's enough to earn respect from anyone who loves the game ?

[Steinarique4]

id rather see a team that fights to the last minute like egypt than one that just parks the bus hoping for pens

[Samzion]

Honest game play that's all

[tyckaenne]

ppl saw egypt play without any dirty triccks just heart and running, even the live odds didnt reflect how dangerous they looked after that equalizer. honestly salah doing all that while barely 80% fit was something else man

[G.Barca]

Anything to taint Messi's Legacy

[dan606td]

becuase they realy scrapped till teh end bro, hard not to root for that ngl ? ?

[vortex88888]

really?

[luxess]

do you think the ref decisions played a bigger part in the sympathy or was it purely the quality of play?