WORLD CUP ’90 : Irish Manager Criticizes Egyptians After 0-0 Tie : Group F: He says Egypt did not have a proper offensive attack, but the Egyptian defense, especially goalie Ahmed Shobair, plays very well.

PALERMO, Sicily —  Ireland and Egypt kept alive their hopes of advancing to the second round by playing to a lackluster 0-0 tie Sunday.

Ireland dominated the match but was prevented from capitalizing by its haphazard attacks, a determined Egyptian defense and key saves by goalkeeper Ahmed Shobair.

A crowd of 33,000 booed and whistled after the hectic, unimaginative game.

Irish Manager Jack Charlton blamed Egypt for playing with no attack plan.

“The Egyptians had come not to play a match,” he said. “They never created a chance.

“I didn’t like anything about the game, the way the Egyptians played nor their time-wasting tactics.”

Egypt’s players, fighting early elimination in their first Cup since 1934, hugged each other and smiled after the final whistle.

“We came to win, not to get a draw,” Coach Mahmoud el-Gohary said. “We found it difficult to change our tactics to counter the Irish.”

The outcome left Group F as open as at the start of the tournament. All four teams have two points from two ties and a 1-1 goal differential.

England and the Netherlands, the other teams, played to a 0-0 tie Saturday.

If Thursday’s wrapup games--Ireland-Netherlands and England-Egypt--produce ties of the same score, a lottery would be used to decide the two teams that would advance to the second round.

The Ireland-Egypt game was almost totally devoid of creative soccer.

The Irish, who are playing in the World Cup for the first time, had more possession, but were unable to create many scoring opportunities. Egypt had virtually no attack.

The Irish dominated the second half, but could not find a way past Shobair.

The Egyptian goalie made two tough saves against striker Tony Cascarino in the first half. He was busier in the second half and was beaten by a 47th-minute shot from Andy Townsend that defender Hani Ramzi cleared off the goal line.

Ray Houghton forced Shobair to make his best save in the 70th minute. Houghton broke in from the right side and Shobair lunged, getting his hand high enough to deflect the shot.

“I hit the shot well but he got to it. I thought it was a goal,” Houghton said.