‘Best case scenario’: Former Egyptian captains happy with team’s path in knockout stages

CAIRO: Former captains and players of the Egyptian national team across different generations have expressed their delight at Egypt’s progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup and believe facing Australia next Friday could be the best-case scenario in the next round and an opportunity to write a new chapter in the country’s football history.

Wild celebrations broke out across Egypt after the historic qualification to the Round of 32 following a 1-1 draw with Iran on Saturday. The encounter saw the Pharaohs secure second place in Group G with five points, behind leaders Belgium.

The match featured a number of dramatic moments, including VAR’s overturning of what would have been Iran’s second and winning goal in stoppage time. In addition, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan was forced to make substitutions due to injuries to some players, including star man and captain Mohamed Salah.

“The Egyptian national team, under the leadership of coach Hossam Hassan, played as one unit, and they deserved to achieve the best-case scenario. We hope to continue the victories in the next round, provided they maintain the same ambition and spirit,” Gamal Abdel Hamid, who captained Egypt at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, told Arab News.

He said that Egypt’s respect for all the teams in the group was the secret to qualifying and added that if the national team continues to play with the same tactics — an organized zonal defense system with quick attacking transitions — they could progress even further in the World Cup.

Hamid agreed with Hassan’s statement that the Egyptian team has “26 champions” in its squad, highlighting that midfielder Mahmoud Saber, a player for Zed FC, had scored Egypt’s goal against Iran in his first World Cup