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Who Are Egypt's Players? From Liverpool Icon to Barcelona Wonderkid
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah’s hamstring status is under scrutiny after he was substituted in Egypt’s final group game and missed part of training this week.
Australia faces Egypt in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 at 4 a.m. on Saturday, marking the Socceroos' third knockout appearance but first chance to win at this stage.
Egypt captain Mohamed Salah, the 34-year-old Liverpool star, missed training on Monday but returned to the session on Tuesday, accounting for 60 to 70 per cent of his team's output.
After Tuesday's penalty shootouts eliminated heavyweights Germany and the Netherlands, Socceroos assistant coach Mile Jedinak prioritized spot-kick training while analyzing individual threats like Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush.
Egyptian Youth Australia president Mohamed Abdelrahman called the team's first-ever knockout appearance a 'historic moment,' while Sydney barber Kleames Dawod noted fans are celebrating as a 'win-win scenario.'
Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati is relishing the challenge of facing Salah, stating, "It's my favourite thing to play against good players," as the 22-year-old prepares for Saturday's clash.
For the 16th final between Australia and Egypt (20 hours), Mohamed Salah will be well-timed, despite the uncertainties after his injury in the last group phase game.