Egypt eye Argentina clash as Salah shakes off penalty demons in shootout win
Egypt booked a Last 16 spot by overcoming Australia on penalties in Dallas, with Mohamed Salah converting the winning kick after notably missing from the spot in previous knockout shootouts. Salah expressed belief this could be among the defining moments of his career, having previously lost faith in penalty situations during the qualifying phase. The forward also welcomed the prospect of facing Argentina's Lionel Messi at the international level for the first time, having previously encountered him twice in European club competitions.
The matchup pits the world champions against a team aiming to prove their mettle through unified effort rather than reliance on individual brilliance. Egypt's technical director stated the squad would concentrate on executing their own gameplan and blocking out the prestige surrounding their opponents, positioning their squad depth as a counterweight to Argentina's celebrated talent. Meanwhile, Argentina's representatives flagged concerns about recovery time following their narrow win over Cape Verde, with particular worry about physical exertion and cramp issues affecting their preparation for Egypt's defence.
- Egypt defeated Australia on penalties to reach the World Cup Last 16, with Mohamed Salah scoring the decisive spot-kick after missing such attempts in previous tournament eliminations.
- Egypt will face Argentina—the defending champions—on Tuesday in Atlanta, marking the first international encounter between Salah and Lionel Messi despite two previous Champions League meetings.
- While Argentina concerns centre on fatigue and Egypt's physical strength, Egypt's coaching staff are encouraging their squad to focus on their own performance rather than their opponents' star power.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “‘They have Messi, but we have Salah’: Egypt prepare to take on Argentina”.