Now that Egypt and Algeria have overcome the crisis between them, or so it seems, it is even more important for the parties who were the cause behind the eruption of this crisis to realize the size of the mistakes they committed, so as not to repeat the same mistakes at the first athletic event opposing sports teams from the two countries. It was noteworthy yesterday that the discourse in the Egyptian media, before and during the game opposing the Algerian national team to the Slovenian team in the World Cup, tended towards supporting and encouraging the Algerian team, regardless of some other opinions which did not have much of an effect and were mostly distributed on internet websites. On the whole, Egyptian official and popular sympathy for the Algerian team seemed clear, to such an extent in fact that it might make some think it had been directed, especially since Egyptian state television alone has obtained the right to broadcast the game, and not any of Egypt's private television channels, as part of a deal struck with the Al-Jazeera Sports network. Even the shows of private channels which did not show the game but commented on it clearly sought to insist on supporting the Algerian team, despite the fact that those in charge of those same channels were the cause of inflaming enmity between the two countries, before and during the decisive game between the Egyptian and Algerian teams, the result of which led to Algeria making it to the World Cup. Looking at some Algerian media outlets and their internet websites also proves that they have stopped, or at least greatly reduced, their attacks against everything Egyptian, perhaps as a result of the new direction taken by Egypt. We are not talking here about a sports crisis that might arise between the two countries for any reason, but rather about a kind of behavior the Arabs have become accustomed to and it seems have grown to like and are no longer able to change, one connected to not recognizing mistakes, looking into their causes or even pledging not to return to them. Thus the two sides suddenly changed their behavior, transformed their discourse and embellished their sentences and expressions, and thus expressions of goodwill replaced those of defiance, hatred and enmity between their people and the people of the other country. And as long as no one recognizes having made any mistakes, the Arabs will be waiting for a new crisis, whether between Egypt and Algeria or between any other two countries, in the future, one in which the same mistakes will take place. It is not the first time and it will not be the last, and because it is so, it is no wonder that mistakes and perhaps disasters will be repeated. Then some of us will come and ask: why are we in such a state and why do such ordeals always go through us? On the whole, the reaction of Egyptian football fans to the Algerian team's defeat in the game was characterized by sadness, and even the many football analysts who commented on the game seemed careful not to direct criticism at the Algerian team's coach or at its players, making sure not to provoke the Algerians again. Such behavior might ensure continued appeasement, overcoming the crisis and relations returning to normal. Yet certainly it does not at all ensure that another such crisis will not erupt in the future.
