Baladiyyat Al Mehalla · Premier League · Midfielder · #24 · Egypt · 31 yrs
Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed (28) has eventually turned up for preseason training, according to Ouest-France. The Egypt international has not been called up by national team manager Hossam Hassan f...
Pierluigi Collina shared his opinion on the controversial plays of the match between Argentina and Egypt. The Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt was one of the most thrilling of the tournament, with Argentina coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2. However, Egypt complained about referee François Letexier, who was defended by Pierluigi Collina as he detailed the controversial plays of the match on the official Inside FIFA website while reaffirming that referees are independent from Gianni Infantino. Collina said: “A foul is a foul, regardless of whether it seems obvious. If the referee did not see it on the field, the VAR can intervene. There is no defined limit regarding the distance from the goal, nor the amount of time that has passed between the incident and the goal.” This explanation from the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee referred to the disallowed goal scored by Mostafa Zico after VAR called Letexier to review the play in which Lisandro Martínez was stepped on by Marwan Attia near Egypt’s corner flag. Collina on the final goal Even after Zico had a goal disallowed, he scored again a few minutes later on a fantastic counterattack to put Egypt 2-0 ahead. Then the comeback began with a Cristian Romero header before Lionel Messi equalized. Martínez was fouled on the other end of the field (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) The winning goal also generated controversy from Egypt’s perspective, as Mohamed Salah fell inside the penalty area when Julián Álvarez won the ball back from him in the move that ended with Enzo Fernández scoring the winner. Collina said: “Stepping on an opponent’s foot is a foul, whereas a defender who plays the ball first and then makes normal contact with the opponent does not commit a foul. The referee and the VAR considered it to be normal contact.” Collina on possible influence from Infantino There was plenty of frustration from Egypt after the elimination. Hossam Hassan was the main figure fueling the protests with his gestures toward the referee. It was not just the manager who delayed the match for a few minutes, as several members of the coaching staff were also yelling at Letexier. Collina responded to the claims that the competition had been influenced by Infantino. Collina said: “No one can claim that FIFA’s refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even the FIFA president. He has always shown his full support, trusting us to work with complete independence. Referees make honest decisions and, just like players and coaches, they always strive to do their very best.”
Dan Riccio and Blake Price recap a historic day of Round of 16 action on The 90th Minute as Argentina escapes a 2-0 deficit and Switzerland wins on penalties. The Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has just delivered one of the greatest single-elimination thrillers in modern football history. On the latest edition of The 90th Minute, co-hosts Dan Riccio and Blake Price return to unpack a breathless day of knockout drama defined by heart-stopping fightbacks, penalty shootouts, and heavy bracket ramifications. Listen to the full tactical matchday breakdown on Spotify to catch up on the complete analysis. The program leads with a comprehensive autopsy of Argentina’s miraculous 3-2 victory over Egypt in Atlanta. Hossam Hassan’s clinical Pharaohs threatened one of the biggest shocks in tournament history, exploiting the high defensive line to build a stunning 2-0 lead through Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico, while goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir brilliantly denied a Lionel Messi penalty. However, the reigning world champions mounted an unprecedented, late 14-minute siege. Cristian Romero initiated the lifeline in the 79th minute, Lionel Messi struck a blistering equalizer to notch his 8th tournament goal, and Enzo Fernández hammered home a dramatic 92nd-minute match-winner—marking the 3,000th goal in World Cup history. The hosts dissect the intense refereeing controversies and the structural adjustments that rescued the tournament favorites from the brink. The analysis then transitions into a gritty, ultra-defensive battle between Switzerland and Colombia. Following 120 minutes of tense, scoreless tactical chess where the Swiss backline completely suffocated a passive Colombian attack, Switzerland held their nerve to prevail in a high-stakes penalty shootout. The guys evaluate Switzerland’s structural defensive shape and explain why their organized low-block continues to look incredibly difficult to dismantle in single-elimination football. The episode concludes by laying out the highly anticipated Quarterfinal landscape. With both tournament survivors locking in their places, Argentina and Switzerland are officially set for a massive blockbuster showdown on Saturday in Kansas. You can stream the entire daily overview right now. Check out The 90th Minute on Spotify to get the latest match reactions, detailed tactical player ratings, and expert bracket projections.
After Argentina's big comeback to win the match 3-2, the Egyptian Football Association reportedly filed a formal complaint with FIFA questioning the officiating. Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida has reportedly filed an official complaint to FIFA against French referee François Letexier and his assistants, following Egypt’s 3-2 Round of 16 elimination against Argentina. The complaint stems from a string of contentious officiating decisions throughout the match, which the Egyptian federation believes went against them at key moments. Among the grievances, Egypt points to their second goal being disallowed after a VAR review flagged a foul on Lisandro Martinez in the buildup, wiping out what would have made it 2-0. The federation’s complaint also references a penalty claim for a foul on Mohamed Salah, moments before Enzo Fernandez’s header put Argentina up 3-2. After Argentina‘s third goal completed an impressive 10-minute comeback, Egypt’s bench erupted at the referee, who showed a yellow card to head coach Hossam Hassan and sent off one of his staff members. Hossam Hassan, Head Coach of Egypt, argues with referee Francois Letexier. (Getty Images) Egypt coach sounds off after elimination Head coach Hossam Hassan was similarly critical in his post-match comments, directing his frustration squarely at the officiating rather than the result itself. “I’m going to say what I think regardless of the consequences, because I don’t care anymore. Clearly, the match was fixed, and everyone saw it,” Hassan said. “And I want to say something else — if they wanted Argentina to win so badly, why bother inviting everyone to compete? We were the better team on the day, but soccer is unfair. We had a penalty claim, and the referee disallowed our third goal, and I don’t know why,” he added. Hassan was also shown crossing his arms multiple times during the match while protesting Letexier’s decisions — a gesture that resembles FIFA’s anti-racism protocol signal, sparking confusion on social media. pic.twitter.com/RKe8jfhfER— clever (@ahmeddey4u) July 7, 2026 Egyptian players and staff were seen trying to get him to stop mid-protest, and Letexier ultimately did not treat it as an anti-racism complaint.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan on Tuesday said his team had "suffered an injustice" in the wake of his team's loss to Argentina in a round of 16 match in Atlanta. Hassan took issue with the French referee on several counts, including a decision that disallowed a goal that had initially put Egypt up 2-0.
Hossam Hassan complained about Francois Letexier after Egypt lost to Argentina as the manager made claims about the referee. There were many dramatic matches in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, but none was more memorable than Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Egypt, which left Hossam Hassan furious as the manager criticized referee Francois Letexier. Hassan said: “I thought maybe he was hiding something, that perhaps he had something to conceal. People who have something to hide sometimes can’t keep it hidden completely, and that’s exactly how I felt during that conversation.” His team let a two-goal lead slip in 14 minutes to be eliminated, with the winning goal coming in stoppage time. That led to Hassan’s explosive comments after the match as he claimed Letexier missed a foul before Enzo Fernandez’s goal, even making a gesture crossing his arms to show his frustration. Hassan claims strange things occurred In the buildup to Fernandez’s goal, there was a slight jersey pull by Alexis Mac Allister inside Argentina’s penalty area that Hassan believed should have resulted in a penalty: “There wasn’t even a VAR review. We all saw his jersey being pulled, but the play wasn’t reviewed to disallow the goal. That’s how life is: unfair.” Letexier was the referee of the match (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) This wasn’t the manager’s only complaint about the referee. The match also featured a disallowed goal, with Hassan claiming there were several questionable decisions throughout the game. Hassan said: “The outcome was influenced by internal factors on the field and during the match, as well as external factors leading up to the game. It appeared that Argentina had put pressure on the referee, which contributed to this result. We had already expressed our concerns about that referee.” Hassan on his protest after the match Even though his team came close to eliminating a powerhouse like Argentina, Egypt left the tournament disappointed after leading for most of the match. The way it ended also led Hassan to take a personal stand in protest for the remainder of the competition. Hassan said: “I won’t continue, and I promise you this: from the moment I return, I will not watch any more matches in this World Cup. This is my personal protest, my own objection, my way of making my voice heard and standing by my principles. I won’t watch a single match in this tournament.”
Egypt squandered a two-goal lead and exited the World Cup to Argentina, but Hossam Hassan was left fuming at the match officials. The post Egypt’s defeat to Argentina ‘clearly a rigged match’, says Hassan appeared first on SoccerNews.
With Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah preparing for a blockbuster meeting in Atlanta, the decision surrounding Marmoush has quickly become one of the biggest talking points before kickoff. Omar Marmoush will begin Egypt’s huge 2026 World Cup Round of 16 clash against Argentina from the bench, leaving many supporters wondering why one of the team’s biggest attacking names is missing from the starting lineup. With Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah preparing for a blockbuster meeting in Atlanta, the decision surrounding Marmoush has quickly become one of the biggest talking points before kickoff. Argentina enters the knockout battle looking to continue its title defense, while Egypt is chasing a historic place in the quarter-finals. The Pharaohs have already exceeded expectations by reaching this stage, but facing the reigning champions requires difficult decisions, and coach Hossam Hassan has made a tactical call that has surprised some fans. The reason why Omar Marmoush is on the bench Marmoush’s absence from the starting XI is not because of an injury. Instead, Egypt’s decision is linked to his lack of attacking production during the tournament and Hossam Hassan’s desire to use a more compact system against Argentina. The Manchester City forward arrived at the World Cup as one of Egypt’s most exciting attacking options, expected to provide pace, direct running, and support for Salah. However, his performances so far have failed to reach the level many expected, with Marmoush recording no goals or assists in 316 minutes of action at the tournament. Our Starting XI against Argentina in the round of 16 1️⃣1️⃣🇪🇬#egyptnt#FIFAWORLDCUP pic.twitter.com/PGIZkOYZ4C— Egypt National Team (@EgyptNT_EN) July 7, 2026 His finishing has also been a concern. The forward managed only one shot on target from 11 attempts and missed a major one-on-one opportunity against Australia before failing to convert his penalty during the shootout. Those moments appear to have influenced Hassan’s decision ahead of the biggest match in Egypt’s campaign. Hossam Hassan chooses more defensive setup Egypt knows that Argentina’s attacking quality can punish even the smallest mistakes. After watching the reigning champions struggle defensively during their dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde, Hassan appears ready to prioritize defensive organization and quick counterattacks. The Pharaohs are expected to rely heavily on Mohamed Salah’s experience and creativity while using additional runners around him instead of starting Marmoush. The plan is designed to frustrate Argentina’s midfield control and create opportunities when Messi’s team commits players forward. Omar Marmoush #22 and players of Egypt walk out the tunnel Although Marmoush is not starting, his role could still become crucial during the match. Egypt is expected to use him as an impact substitute, especially if Argentina begins to tire after their exhausting extra-time battle against Cape Verde.
A true David versus Goliath 2026 World Cup Round of 16 tie unfolds in Atlanta, where Egypt take on defending champions Argentina in a first-ever World Cup meeting between the two nations. Egypt enter the match at No. 24 in the latest FIFA World Ranking, with 1,597.04 points, a gap of more than 300 points […] A true David versus Goliath 2026 World Cup Round of 16 tie unfolds in Atlanta, where Egypt take on defending champions Argentina in a first-ever World Cup meeting between the two nations. Egypt enter the match at No. 24 in the latest FIFA World Ranking, with 1,597.04 points, a gap of more than 300 points separating them from their opponent. Hossam Hassan’s men went unbeaten through Group G, opening with a 1-1 draw against Belgium, following it with a 3-1 win over New Zealand, and closing with another 1-1 stalemate against Iran, good enough for five points and second place behind the Belgians. That group-stage form carried into the Round of 32, where Egypt needed a penalty shootout to see off Australia after a 1-1 draw through extra time, delivering the country’s first-ever World Cup knockout win and setting up just its second-ever Round of 16 appearance, the first having come all the way back in 1934. Standing in Egypt’s way is an Argentina side ranked No. 2 in the world, with 1,913.71 points. Lionel Scaloni’s men steamrolled through Group J with a perfect nine points, beating Algeria 3-0, Austria 2-0, and Jordan 3-1, before needing extra time themselves to get past a stubborn Cape Verde side 3-2 in the Round of 32. Egypt players celebrate Mohamed Salah’s penalty vs Australia. (Getty Images) Egypt chasing history against the defending champions Few storylines at this World Cup have been as compelling as Egypt’s run so far, a campaign already defined by a handful of tournament records. The Pharaohs have scored six goals through four matches, the most in a single edition in team history. Much of Egypt’s hopes rest on the shoulders of Mohamed Salah, squaring off in a highly anticipated individual duel against Lionel Messi, who leads the tournament’s Golden Boot race level with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland at seven goals apiece. Should Egypt find a way through, they would become just the fifth African nation in history to reach the World Cup quarterfinals, joining Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana, and Morocco. A win, by any scoreline, would send Egypt through to a quarterfinal meeting with the winner of Switzerland and Colombia in Kansas City on July 11 — and stand as one of the biggest upsets of this year’s tournament.
Argentina secured their place in the Round of 16, suffering against Cape Verde but securing a huge victory in the latest minutes. Despite that victory, they have dropped positions in the FIFA Men's World Ranking ahead of facing Egypt. Argentina have shown to be a top contender in the 2026 World Cup. Not only have they shone offensively, but they have also learned to adapt to their opponents, something that has been key to their comeback victories. Against Cape Verde, they struggled considerably, but managed to secure a victory that earned them a place in the Round of 16. Despite that victory, they have dropped positions in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking ahead of facing Egypt. According to the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, Argentina are ranked as 2nd position, with 1913.71 points. While they have kept a solid consistency, they lost one position compared to their start of the tournament. However, they have managed to remain in the first sports for a long time, having the chance to repeat it, but needing to reach the final and win the tournament again. Despite having lost one spot, Lionel Scaloni’s team remains ahead of Egypt in the rankings. Hossam Hassan’s team are ranked 25th with 1,597.04 points. However, they have gained five places, demonstrating their excellent form during the tournament. While they may not look to dominate possession, they could be dangerous on the counterattack, looking to exploit Argentina’s defensive vulnerabilities when pressing high. After struggling in the previous match, Lionel Scaloni could make changes to the defensive structure, looking to deal with Egypt’s counterattacks. Nevertheless, Argentina’s challenge will be to break down Egypt’s strong defense by applying a high press led by Nicolás Tagliafico and Nahuel Molina. Although Lionel Messi has been shining in recent matches, Julián Álvarez also needs to produce his best version and become a goalscorer once again. Players of Argentina take drinks at the hydration break Argentina’s defense faces major test against Egypt in Round of 16 Throughout the 2026 World Cup, Argentina have been one of the most impressive attacking teams. Led by Lionel Messi, they consistently find spaces to attack despite the goalscoring drought of Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez. Nevertheless, they struggled considerably in defense against Cape Verde, something they could suffer from again against Egypt, making it one of their biggest challenges. After their poor man-marking, Argentina conceded two goals against Cape Verde. Facing Egypt and their dangerous counterattack, they need to improve their zonal marking. In addition, Lionel Scaloni is reportedly set to include Leandro Paredes in place of Thiago Almada to strengthen the team’s defensive structure and prevent quick counterattacks. Without defensive solidity, Messi’s goals and those of the rest of the team may not be enough.
Egypt says Dallas hotel incident is resolvedHassan accepts police apology after clashCoach waves Palestine flag after victoryEgypt coach Hossam Hassan said he considered the matter resolved after he and team director Ibrahim Hassan had a physical confrontation with a police officer at the team’s hotel in Dallas.Video began circulating Thursday, a day before Egypt beat Australia in the round of the 32 at the World Cup, showing both men arguing with a Dallas police officer, apparently over a player preparing to take a picture with a young fan in the hotel lobby. Continue reading...
Hossam Abdelmaguid puffed out his cheeks, began his run up with exaggerated slowness, checked and then, as Mat Ryan fell to his left, put the ball to his right. Harry Souttar and the 18-year-old Lucas Herrington had already missed for Australia and Egypt, having scored all of their penalties, were through. Abdelmaguid ran off to the corner, ripping off his shirt, and was soon joined by an ecstatic posse of Egyptian players. Mohamed Salah, who had converted a Panenka, was in tears, and the manager, Hossam Hassan, was in tears. Don’t worry about the scrappy, largely formless game from which the emotion stemmed: Egypt had won a World Cup knockout tie for the first time.“My heart and soul are with the Palestinian people,” said Hassan. “I thank them and dedicate this victory to them. We succeeded in making Arab people proud. I wanted to win for the sake of the good people. God is honouring us because of the good people who are here.” Continue reading...
With the hopes of a nation holding its breath, the ultimate question dominates the countdown to kickoff: will their warrior be fit to take the pitch, and how will these two nations deploy their forces for this sudden-death epic? A cloud of agonizing uncertainty hangs over Egypt as it marches into a monumental Round of 32 collision with Australia. The fate of its legendary captain, Mohamed Salah, hangs in the balance following a devastating hamstring strain. With the hopes of a nation holding its breath, the ultimate question dominates the countdown to kickoff: will their warrior be fit to take the pitch, and how will these two nations deploy their forces for this sudden-death epic? Australia reached the knockout stage after finishing second in Group D. The Socceroos opened with a 2-0 victory over Turkey, suffered a defeat against the United States, and then secured qualification with a goalless draw against Paraguay. Although Australia has scored only two goals during the tournament, its defensive displays have been among the strongest in the group stage. Tony Popovic’s side has conceded just twice, relying on organization and discipline rather than attacking flair. Egypt also arrives with confidence after making history by advancing beyond the World Cup group stage for the first time. The Pharaohs remained unbeaten, drawing with Belgium and Iran while defeating New Zealand, collecting five points to finish second in Group G on goal difference. Emam Ashour #8 of Egypt celebrates with teammates. The African representative has already matched its total goal output from several previous World Cup appearances combined, scoring five goals during the group phase. That attacking improvement has given Hossam Hassan’s side belief heading into its biggest match in decades. Jackson Irvine and Harry Souttar of Australia Will Mohamed Salah play? The biggest question surrounding Egypt has centered on the condition of captain Mohamed Salah after he suffered a hamstring strain during the draw against Iran. The Liverpool legend left the match in the 57th minute before beginning an intensive rehabilitation program. Mohamed Salah #10 of Egypt participates in the training session ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Australia Egypt recently received encouraging news ahead of the knockout clash, with Salah cleared to play against Australia after returning to full training with the squad. However, despite coach Hossam Hassan not guaranteeing that his captain will start the match, the veteran has been included in the starting lineup. Australia vs Egypt: Confirmed lineups Australia confirmed XI (5-4-1):Beach; Bos, Circati, Souttar, Herrington, Behich; Irvine, O’Neill, Metcalfe, Volpato; Irankunda. Egypt confirmed XI (4-3-3): Shobeir; Hany, Rabia, Ibrahim, Hafez; Fathy, Attia, Ashour; Zico, Salah, Marmoush.
Check out Egypt's official FIFA World Ranking, coefficient point totals, and knockout form guide before their 2026 World Cup elimination match against Australia. History will inevitably be written under the lights of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. For the first time in their modern footballing history, Egypt has pierced through the group stage phase of a FIFA World Cup, setting up an intriguing Round of 32 clash against Australia where neither country has ever won a single-elimination match at this tournament. As head coach Hossam Hassan maps out a strategy to continue this unprecedented summer run, Egypt commands the 26th position in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking with a coefficient baseline of 1,584.71 points. The tactical hurdle blocking the Pharaohs’ path to the Round of 16 is an exceptionally compact Asian side mirroring their exact tier on the international ladder. Australia occupies the 28th spot globally under the stewardship of Tony Popovic, holding a narrow advantage with 1,581.35 ranking points. This paper-thin margin of just two places on the official Inside FIFA leaderboard sets the stage for an incredibly balanced, low-margin knockout event. Group Standings and Form Metrics The path to Texas saw Egypt showcase immense adaptability in Group G, remaining entirely undefeated by drawing with heavyweight favorites Belgium, taking down New Zealand 3-1, and grinding out a 1-1 tactical draw against Iran. Australia, conversely, leaned strictly on defensive discipline in Group D, rebounding from a loss against the United States to shut out Türkiye and secure a 0-0 qualifying draw with Paraguay. The table below breaks down the tournament baselines and live ranking metrics for the two sides: CountryFIFA RankGroup Phase RecordGoal DifferenceAustralia28th1-1-1 (2nd in Group D)0Egypt26th1-2-0 (2nd in Group G)+2 Historical Context Evaluating Egypt’s trajectory over the long term illuminates the recovery process the national team has undergone over the last decade. The Pharaohs reached an legendary all-time peak back in December 2010, when a dominant hat-trick of Africa Cup of Nations trophies propelled them to 9th in the world. Following a severe structural transition phase that saw them collapse to a historical floor of 75th globally in 2013, the program has firmly re-established itself among the global elite.
Egypt face Australia in a historic World Cup game on Friday and the manager has been keen to highlight president Al-Sisi’s role in the achievementAfter Egypt’s 3-1 victory over New Zealand at the World Cup, the national team coach, Hossam Hassan, issued a statement of gratitude to the country’s president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.Al-Sisi had sent a congratulatory message to the team and, for Hassan, that almost seemed like a bigger event than the result. The president’s message, he said, was “a medal on his chest,” adding that it has the “effect of magic” before praising the “unprecedented development” of Egyptian sport under al-Sisi’s leadership. Continue reading...
‘We feel relaxed, we feel confident’: Australia’s Tony PopovicPharaohs coach Hossam Hassan unsure whether veteran will startThe Socceroos are set to face Mo Salah in their last 32 match, though uncertainty hangs over whether the Egypt great will start the World Cup knockout in Dallas or come off the bench.Salah was seen training with his teammates on Thursday and Egypt coach Hossam Hassan confirmed his “passionate” forward was fit enough to play. Continue reading...
Despite a softening of his cutting edge and an international career defined by near misses, the forward is expected to cause problems for AustraliaIt was fitting that it was Mo Salah who scored to put Egypt ahead in their World Cup match against New Zealand a little over a week ago. The Pharaohs, for all their achievements in Africa, had never won a World Cup match. Fighting back from 1-0 down to the All Whites, Salah helped engineer a long-awaited victory, at the same time moving to within one of Egypt’s record goalscorer Hossam Hassan, also the team’s coach at this tournament.“In years to come, we will remember that this was one of the achievements in history,” Salah said after the match, which finished 3-1 and all but secured the nation’s progression to the last 32. Continue reading...
