Egypt’s national team director, Ibrahim Hassan, issued a resounding message of confidence ahead of the Pharaohs’ highly anticipated World Cup Round of 16 showdown against Argentina.
Hassan emphasized that the technical staff is working diligently to shield the players from the daunting prospect of facing Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi.
Speaking to a local TV channel, Hassan delivered a defiant statement: “We aren’t focusing on Messi. We tell the players to go out there, play their game, and block out the stature of who they are up against. They might have Messi, but we in Egypt have Mohamed Salah—and we have 26 Messis of our own. God willing, victory will be ours.”
These remarks follow Egypt’s historic qualification after a decisive victory over Australia.
Hassan congratulated the Egyptian public on the achievement, reaffirming that the technical staff, led by manager Hossam Hassan, is thoroughly preparing the squad for every fixture.
Overcoming Salah’s injury scare
The team director revealed that captain Mohamed Salah suffered an injury scare during the group stage match against Iran, which forced his early exit from that game.
However, Hassan praised the medical staff’s monumental efforts to get the Liverpool forward match-ready for the subsequent Australia clash.
He noted that under normal circumstances, such an injury would require a minimum of ten days of recovery time.
Hassan further stressed that manager Hossam Hassan approaches every match with the utmost seriousness.
The head coach meticulously analyzes opponents and provides the players with comprehensive breakdowns of their rivals’ strengths and weaknesses—a meticulousness that has directly translated into the team’s disciplined on-field performances.
Writing history, overcoming doubt
The team director highlighted that Hossam Hassan has successfully instilled a newfound self-belief within the squad, particularly after some players harbored anxieties about a premature exit from the tournament.
“We told them to completely banish that thought from their minds… we are here to stay,” Hassan asserted.
The core message continuously drilled into the players is to seize the monumental opportunity of competing on the world stage.
“We tell them: go out there, play, and write history, because no one knows if they will ever get the chance to play in a World Cup again,” Hassan added.
Hassan also praised the performances of youngster Haitham Hassan, confirming that he was fully prepared to contribute and that his deployment remains entirely dependent on tactical demands and the coaching staff’s vision.
Backed by a profound harmony between the technical staff and the players, the Egyptian national team hopes to extend its fairy-tale World Cup run and secure an unprecedented milestone, fueled by the fearless mentality anchored ahead of their clash with the reigning world champions.
