Egypt have advanced past the group stage at the World Cup for the first time after a 1-1 draw with Iran, setting up a Round of 32 elimination clash against the Socceroos.
But the fitness of forward Mohamed Salah will be talking point all week after the former Liverpool star failed to finish Friday’s (Saturday AEST) game in Seattle.
The iconic forward was surprisingly replaced in the 57th minute with Mostafa Zico taking his place — with coach Hossam Hassan later revealing he had nothing to do with the decision, saying Salah himself had made the call.
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Salah sat on the bench with ice on his left hamstring for most of the remainder of the game.
In comments translated from Arabic, Hassan said Salah is being assessed by the team’s medical staff and will have another examination when Egypt return to the team hotel.
“I talked to Salah and he said he’s going to be OK and it’s not a big injury,” Hassan said.
“We still have time to talk to the medical staff. I think he will be back, and when I spoke to Salah he assured me he’s going to be OK.”
It would be a serious blow for the seven-time African champions — and a big boost for the Socceroos — if Salah is not able to play in the knockout round against Australia next Friday (4am Saturday AEST).
The four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner scored his 68th international goal in the Pharaohs’ first World Cup win, a 3-1 victory against the All Whites. The 34-year-old has assisted on two other goals in the tournament.
While Salah’s absence would be welcomed by Australian fans, last week’s experience against the United States will remind Socceroos players and coaches that there is no silver bullet.
The Socceroos lucked out in the group stage when American star Christian Pulisic missed their clash with a calf injury but the co-hosts still claimed a 2-0 win.
Australia were just millimetres away from facing Iran but their potential stoppage-time winner against Egypt was disallowed due to an offside decision, and they will have to wait one day to find out their fate.
At the conclusion of what was promoted as a “Pride Match” — one that neither Iran nor Egypt wanted any part in — the Pharaohs finished in second place in Group G.
Belgium, who played out a 1-1 draw against Egypt on June 15, beat New Zealand 5-1 in Vancouver to win the group outright.
Iran could still advance to the knockout round for the first time in the expanded 48-team pool at this year’s tournament, but they no longer control their own destiny.
Egypt took an early lead after a goal by Mahmoud Saber in the fifth minute.
Salah provided some strong play in the box before Saber fired a shot between the legs of Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
Iran levelled nine minutes later thanks to a goal by Ramin Rezaeian and nearly won the game in added time.
Shoja Khalilzadeh fired a shot past Beiranvand in the 93rd minute, but it was overturned for offside after a video review.
Had the goal counted, Iran would have secured an automatic berth to the knockout round to face Australia but instead Egypt held onto second in the group.
