Egypt Primed For First World Cup Win as El-Hadary Eyes World Record

The Pharaohs of Egypt will only be playing for pride and avoiding to finish bottom in the group when they take on Saudi Arabia today.

Egypt came into the tournament after a 27-year absence and were expected to at least qualify to the round of 16 but with their talisman Mohamed Salah nursing an injury, The Pharaohs suffered a 1-0 loss to Uruguay in their opening game, a match they could have won.

Despite the 25-year-old playing the second game, Russia was too good for them handing them a 3-1 defeat. Salah scored from the spot but he looked nothing like the terrorizing little magician he has been for both Club and country recently suggesting that he might not have been fully fit.

Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, have conceded six goals in two games and have failed to score any but this match provides a last chance to at least score a goal at the biggest sporting event in the world.

Egypt have appeared in three World Cups (1934, 1990 and 2018 ) but are yet to win a match in six attempts, losing four times and drawing twice . Meeting a Saudi Arabia side that they managed to beat four times in their previous six meetings, The Pharaohs will fancy their chances of recording a first win at the global showpiece.

While there’s little at stake for the two countries involved in Monday’s match, Egyptian veteran goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary will be desperate to be on the field in order to enter the World Cup record books as the oldest player to compete at the finals.

The 45-year-old goalkeeper was left out of the previous two games and coach Hector Cuper must decide whether to hand him the gloves for what will surely be his last appearance at the tournament.