World Cup 2018 Preview - Egypt

Credit: FIFA (ETPhotos)

Team: Egypt

Manager: Héctor Cúper

Group: A

Other teams in group: Russia, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia 

 

THE SQUAD

The Pharaoh squad is quite top heavy in favour of midfielders and defenders. With that in mind there is a great deal of pressure on the shoulders of striker Marwan Mohsen to hold the ball up and chase long hopeful balls. 

Most of the squad consists of players playing at home or in Saudi Arabia. There are a few Premier League representatives with Mo Salah being the standout star. However Ahmed Hegazi and Ali Gabr both suffered relegation with West Brom, Ramadan Sobhi failed to impact at Stoke City and Sam Morsy was playing in League One. Ahmed Hassan was a surprise omission from the squad as he could have provided an extra impact as a striker. 

The squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Essam El Hadary (Al Taawoun), Mohamed El-Shennawy (Al Ahly), Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly).



Defenders: Ahmed Fathi, Saad Samir, Ayman Ashraf (all Al Ahly), Mahmoud Hamdy (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdel-Shafy (Al Fateh), Ahmed Hegazi (West Brom), Ali Gabr (Zamalek/Loan at West Brom), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Omar Gaber (Los Angeles FC).

Midfielders: Tarek Hamed, (Zamalek), Shikabala (Zamalek), Abdallah Said (Al Ahli), Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Mahmoud Kahraba (Al Ittihad), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City), Mahmoud Hassan (Kasimpasa), Amr Warda (Atromitos Athens).

Forwards: Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).

 

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Egypt qualified with one game to spare. A 94th minute penalty from Mohamed Salah against Congo at home managed to get them over the line at last. Traditional rivals such as Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, were all kept apart on this occasion in qualifying. Games were generally tight affairs throughout the group. Only one team managed to win by more than two goal. Egypt slipped up away to Uganda but won the return game and the subsequent one to qualify ahead of Uganda and top seeds Ghana. 



“Uruguay are the best team but after that we can all fight for second place and, if someone thinks otherwise, I will be ready to listen to their arguments in my office,” Héctor Cúper said recently.

 

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Mohamed Salah

The Liverpool attacker emerged as the top scorer in African qualifying. His six goals all proved crucial to the national team getting to Russia. Domestically, and in Europe, he has been in sparkling form. He finished with the golden boot and a host of awards along the way. He was instrumental in getting his club to their first Champions League final. 

The injury he sustained in Kiev against Real Madrid caused many Egyptians to panic but he has been named in the final squad. He is not expected to feature in their opener but could prove crucial in the remaining games, particularly in the second game against the tournament hosts in St. Petersburg.

Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet”

Named after his resemblance to the French striker, the winger has impressed in his first season in the Turkish league. Kasimpasa may not be the biggest club in the country but Hassan thrilled those who saw him. 

On loan from Anderlecht, he was expected to struggle to settle in new surroundings at first but chalked up thirteen goals and six assists in his debut season there. He featured in the team of the year ahead of the likes of Valbuena, Quaresma and Feghouli. In the possible absence of Salah, he will be expected to provide much of the creativity in the side. 

Mohamed Elneny

A slow start to the campaign for the defensive midfielder saw him dropped by Arsenal. He played his way back into the side and deservedly gained a new contract. Disappointment on the club due to falling short of expectations means that he is eager to prove himself to his new manager. The solid shape demanded by Cúpur means that he is a big part of his plans. 

 

WHERE THEY ARE PLAYING AND STAYING

15 June: Uruguay v Egypt, Yekaterinburg

19 June: Russia v Egypt, Saint Petersburg

25 June: Egypt v Saudi Arabia, Volgograd

The selection of Grozny for their base has caused much controversy. Human rights leaders and groups called for a reversal of the decision to use Chechnya as allegations of human rights abuses blight the region. FIFA dismissed these calls, claiming the decision would cause no adverse human rights violations. It does mean long journeys ahead for the squad, with the first game being 1800 kilometres away. 

 

THREE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TEAM

Héctor Cúpur will hope to settle a personal drought when it comes to finals. The Argentinian manager, who has been in charge of nine different European clubs in 20 years, famously has a poor record when it comes to lifting silverware. He lost the last ever European Cup Winners Cup Final, two successive Champions League Finals, a last day collapse to concede the Serie A title, and a Greek Cup Final. His current system is considered to be extremely defensive despite some of the talent at his disposal. 

Republic of Ireland fans of a certain age will perhaps remember a dour encounter in our debut World Cup against the Pharaohs. Most of us would have not have expected to wait so long to see them back on the biggest stage again. That twenty-eight year wait was still not as long as the fifty-six year gap between that and their debut in 1934. 

Eassam El-Hadary is set to become the oldest player to play at the World Cup and also the oldest debutant at the tournament. Indeed, the forty-five year old made his international debut before the squads youngest player, Stoke City’s Ramadan Sobhi was born! He was described by Didier Drogba as being his most troublesome opponent after helping Egypt win a hat-trick of African Cup of Nations titles. 

 

THEIR RECENT FORM

Héctor Cúpur’s men have had a tough selection of games since qualifying. Recent friendly games saw them defeated by Portugal (2-1) and Greece (1-0). They also drew 0-0 with Colombia. It demonstrates how difficult a task it will be to break them down but also how they might struggle for goals. 

First game: Uruguay play Egypt in their opening Group A fixture on 15th June at Central Stadium in Yekaterinburg.

    About Philip Morrissey

    Philip is a Cork City fan for his entire adult life. From bad times to good, whether this was taking on some major European sides or in the First Division. Philip went back to college … View Full Profile