Zimbabwe national team manager Claus Dieter Pagels has said that he and the team will be giving their best in the World Cup qualifying stage despite the fact that they are unlikely to qualify. Ahead of the match with Egypt, Zimbabwe will be looking to qualify for the World Cup. However, they are in the last position of the group G after having played just three matches. Only the top team qualifies for the World Cup automatically. The top place is currently occupied by Egypt, who are a mammoth eight points ahead of them in the table. Still, Pagels reckons that his team will be giving their 100% in the matches.
Pagels was appointed as the Zimbabwe national team manager after the team failed to qualify for the 2013 African cup of nations. However, he knew at the time of taking the job that qualifying for the World Cup is going to be extremely tough. It has proven to be the case, as Zimbabwe have just one point to show in the three matches they have played. Ahead of the match, Pagels has said that he has seen the Egyptian team play in the last few matches, and he has identified certain areas to target in the opposition.
“I know they are a very strong team and that we are facing a tough mission in Alexandria. I watched their recent friendly games and know they are a very good team despite the fact that they lost in some of the recent matches. I also watched some DVD’s of their old games and know well what awaits us on Tuesday. I asked Zimbabwe Football Association to arrange some friendly games for us, and to leave for Egypt early but the financial situation couldn’t sustain that,” said Pagels ahead of the Egypt match.