Who brought out the 'ooohs' and 'aaahs'?

Egypt is the 32nd best country in the world in football. If you're wondering whether that's good or bad, it all depends on how much is in the glass. If it's half full, then we're pretty darn good. Considering that almost the entire planet plays the game and that 204 countries have some sort of established football, then Egypt can reasonably claim a place alongside the big boys.

Here are some examples, based on the most recent FIFA Coca Cola World rankings: Brazil, at 1, Argentina, at 5, and Germany, at 12, are all ahead of Egypt. But Nigeria, at 35, South Africa, at 36, Morocco, at 38, Tunisia, at 45, and Libya, at 83, are all below it. Which, effectively, means that out of all the African countries vying to host the 2010 World Cup, Egypt sports the continent's best football.

The reason -- the pedigree of players we have produced over the years. How they wowed us with their dancing feet, their majestic turns, the feints, the jinks, the give-and-go and the whole wonderful razzle-dazzle show.

Whether glued to TV sets or stadium seats, they inspired our gasps of delight, the "ooohs" and "aaahs". And for this, we are eternally indebted.

Mokhtar El-Titch

This diminutive yet larger than life player was the dominant centre forward of his time, the 1930s and 40s. It was sheer ecstasy to watch this master, and his total command of the ball. Such was El-Titch's wizardry that after his death in 1963, Ahli paid homage by naming its 30,000-seat football stadium after him and erecting a bust in his likeness in the middle of the club's fountain area. It was the first, and would be the only time, that Ahli -- which has generated a galaxy of outstanding players in its history -- would single out one footballer for such commemoration.

Yehya Imam

Probably the country's best ever goalkeeper. A stalwart in the nets for Zamalek, Imam had a mighty leap that could carry him almost from one goal post to the other. He was also known for being the first of three famous family members, the tree having produced star son Hamada and, in turn, Hamada's star offspring Hazem.

Abdel-Karim Saqr

If records had been kept, Saqr would have probably made it to the Guinness Book for the number of times he could juggle a ball without letting it fall. He was especially adept at running full speed with the ball seemingly scotch- taped to his forehead. He played in the 1936 and 1948 Olympic Games, and was one of a minority of players who succeeded in playing for both Ahli and Zamalek, the country's traditional archrivals, helping Ahli win one cup and Zamalek three. He scored in the first Ahli-Zamalek encounter in October 1948.

El-Sayed El-Dizwi

Known simply -- but aptly -- as "the magician", El-Dizwi was born in 1926. He played for Misri of Port Said, then Ahli, for which he helped win four league titles beginning in 1956, and two cups. He scored five goals against Norway in Oslo in 1955 in a match Egypt won 5-4, and which resulted in his receiving several offers to play in Europe. Lore has it that in a game against Holland, the Dutch queen jokingly asked after the match that El- Dizwi's football boots be checked for magnets, so adept was he at keeping the ball virtually glued to his feet.

Saleh Selim

If charisma could be measured, the yardstick would be this inspirational midfield captain of the famed Ahli team of the 1950s and 60s, which won nine successive league titles, beginning in 1948, an Egyptian all-time record. He was one of the first Egyptians to play abroad, during a one-year stint with Strum Graz of Austria in 1962. He was also Ahli club president from 1980 to 1988, then again from 1992 to 2002. His death on 6 May 2002 at age 72 was mourned by the nation. Ahli's recent failings in the league African and Arab championships -- after having been selected Africa's football club of the century -- have been directly attributed to his absence.

Hamada Imam

Nicknamed "the fox", Imam had an impeccable nose, and a killer instinct for goals. He scored a famed hat-trick in an emphatic 5-1 demolition of then Premier League winners West Ham United, who had come to town in 1966 with newly crowned World Cup- winning heroes Bobby Moore and Geoffrey Hurst. Now vice-president of the Egyptian Football Association, he hosts a popular football TV phone-in show.

Hassan El-Shazli

The most prolific striker of all-time, he was the top scorer in Egyptian league history with 176 goals. He was also the league's top scorer seven times, a record. In the 1974-75 season, El- Shazli scored 34 goals, a one-season record that still stands. And he did it at a relatively old age of 34. An absolutely devastating shooter, lethal with both feet, he led Tersana to its only league title in 1963.

Mahmoud El-Khatib

If not the best player, El-Khatib is certainly the most famous. A brilliant dribbler and scorer from seemingly impossible angles, El-Khatib was once described by his former coach, Hungarian great Hidegkuti of the Magnificent Magyars, as one of the world's best players. The list of accolades and achievements is long: the only Egyptian to win the African footballer of the year (Ballon D'Or), presented by France Football magazine, in 1983; holder of the most goals scored in African club championships, with 37; named Arab Sportsman of the 20th Century; one of only two Egyptians named to the African all-star team of the century. Despite numerous offers to play elsewhere, El-Khatib never wore a club shirt other than the red of Ahli, from 1972 to 1988.

In alphabetical order, the honourable mentions:

Badawi Abdel-Fatah, Abdel-Galil, Abdel-Aziz Abdel-Shafie, Ali Abu Greisha, Taher Abu Zeid, Helmi Abul Maati, Essam Baheeg, Hanafi Bastan, El-Diba, Rifaat El-Fanagili, Sherif El- Far, Mahmoud El-Gohari, Mohamed El-Guindi, Alaa El-Hamouli, El-Ka's, Farouk Gaafar, Abu Habaga, Adel Heikal, Hemmemi, Ikrami, Taha Ismail, Mohamed Latif, Hussein Madkur, Mustafa Mansour, Ahmed Mikawi, Samir Qutb, Hani Ramzi, Mustafa Riad, Rida, Shehta, Hassan Shehata, Fuad Sidqi, Ibrahim Youssef, Helmi Zamoura, Ali Zeiwar.