Shrewsbury's skipper Adam El-Abd had education with Egypt
No-nonsense Shrewsbury Town skipper Adam El-Abd admitted his international experience with Egypt was an education in a 'La Liga passing' style of football.
Salop's captain, signed on a two-year deal from Bristol City in the summer, is half-Egyptian and half-English and remains extremely proud of his African roots.
El-Abd, 31, has an Egyptian father and was rewarded for some fine performances for Brighton in the Championship when American boss Bob Bradley handed him his international bow in 2012.
And international football, particularly at African level, came as a shock and an education to the commanding centre-half.
"Have you seen the African Nations Cup? It's pot-holes and two-footed tackles," laughed El-Abd.
"Joking aside, it's very athletic and very, very competitive. Games aren't always played on the best pitches, but having said that, the Egyptian squad that I went into was very technical.
"It was played like the Spanish team. We weren't physical, just a constant 'pass the ball' mentality.
"But obviously the teams you come up against vary in quality like in Europe or any league."
El-Abd has featured for The Pharaohs against the likes of Togo and Mozambique, but has also faced African giants Cameroon and Senegal.
