Salah and Egypt seize their chance

DALLAS: After a week in which Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan fielded repeated questions about Australia’s physical advantages and Mohamed Salah’s fitness, it felt fitting that the Pharaohs’ biggest match on the world stage since 1934 began with the two captains — 175 cm Salah and the Socceroos’ 2-meter tower Harry Souttar — standing together in the center circle.

Yet as it turned out, neither storyline mattered quite as much as anticipated. Salah, declared fit enough to start despite concerns over a tight hamstring, drifted through much of the contest without imposing himself, while Australia’s much-discussed aerial superiority proved equally overstated. 

Eman Ashour proved height matters little if you leave players unmarked inside your own penalty area as the Al-Ahly midfielder headed Egypt into the lead in their first World Cup knockout match. Australia eventually equalised from a set piece, yet it was not Souttar or even an Australian but Egypt’s own Mohamed Hany who diverted the ball into his own net. 

By the time penalties arrived, Souttar had handed his captain’s armband to substitute keeper Mathew Ryan ensuring that, in a twist of irony, Egypt went into the shootout with the taller man between the posts. Australia missed twice; Egypt were faultless. Yet none of those details will ultimately define what this Texan afternoon will come to represent in Egyptian football.

Instead, it may be better remembered for the way Salah described it afterwards. “It feels like I’m writing a beautiful story for the people of Egypt,” he told reporters. “To me, that’s better than any other achievement I could talk about.”

After some 15 years with the Pharaohs, countless individual records, and a career that has transformed him