Egypt, Australia Have Eyes on Making World Cup History in Round of 32 Showdown

Rabat – Egypt takes on Australia in the Round of 32 on Friday at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, with a place in the last 16 waiting for the winner. For Egypt, there’s more riding on it than just the scoreline, the country has never won a World Cup knockout game, across its three previous trips to the tournament.

This is Egypt’s fourth World Cup. They played in 1934, in 1990, in 2018, and each time it ended in the group stage. Not this year. They finished second in Group G, five points, unbeaten — a win over New Zealand, a draw with Belgium, another with Iran. Belgium took first place on goal difference, after putting five past New Zealand in the last round of games.

Hossam Hassan’s side didn’t lose once in the group, they beat New Zealand, then drew with Belgium and Iran. But the win they need most right now is a health update. 

Mohamed Salah was taken off in the 57th minute against Iran holding his hamstring, and Egypt still hasn’t said whether he will be fit for Friday.

Australia’s group stage looked different on paper: a loss to the United States, a 2-0 win over Turkey, and a draw with Paraguay to finish second in Group D. 

The Socceroos have now reached the knockout rounds in three straight tournaments, 2006, 2022, and now this one, and lost every time they got there, first to Italy, then to Argentina.

Egypt and Australia have only faced each other twice, and not in anything that carries much weight: a 0-0 draw at the 1987 Korea Cup, and a 3-0 Egypt win in a Cairo friendly in 2010.

What might matter more is the shape of each team. Egypt leans on individual quality, Salah, if fit, alongside Omar Marmoush and Trezeguet.

However, Australia’s approach has been built around defensive discipline and directness through Nestory Irankunda and Awer Mabil on the counter. 

It’s a matchup of a technically superior Egyptian side that hasn’t been seriously tested defensively against Popovic’s side that knows exactly what it is and rarely strays from it.

Whoever wins will face the winner of Argentina vs. Cabo Verde in the Round of 16 in Atlanta on July 7.