• Latest
  • Trending

Preview: Egypt vs Uruguay- Pharaohs dreaming big in first World Cup campaign since 1990

June 15, 2018
DRC and M23 rebels make progressive steps towards peace - Diplomatic Sources confirm

DRC and M23 rebels make progressive steps towards peace – Diplomatic Sources confirm

July 11, 2025
Kintampo South MP Urges swift passage of Startup Act to curb youth emigration

Kintampo South MP Urges swift passage of Startup Act to curb youth emigration

July 11, 2025
Collina Hails Referee Body Cams and New Rules at FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Collina Hails Referee Body Cams and New Rules at FIFA Club World Cup 2025

July 11, 2025
Okaikwei Central MP calls for peace in Ablekuma North election rerun

Okaikwei Central MP calls for peace in Ablekuma North election rerun

July 11, 2025
US eyes Africa as 'dropsite' for deportees - Nigerian gov't says

US eyes Africa as ‘dropsite’ for deportees – Nigerian gov’t says

July 11, 2025
Defence Minister defends police, rejects military deployment amid Ablekuma North rerun chaos

Defence Minister defends police, rejects military deployment amid Ablekuma North rerun chaos

July 11, 2025
NDC Organiser sparks standoff at Hohoe NADMO office over appointment tussle

NDC Organiser sparks standoff at Hohoe NADMO office over appointment tussle

July 11, 2025
Ablekuma North Rerun: chaos and violence disrupt parliamentary rerun

Ablekuma North Rerun: Chaos and violence disrupt parliamentary rerun

July 11, 2025
Ghana Police Service interdict Officer over assault on journalist

GhOne journalist slapped by police officer at Ablekuma North constituency polls

July 11, 2025
Education Minister champions TVET as Ghana’s engine for growth

Education Minister champions TVET as Ghana’s engine for growth

July 11, 2025
Robbery suspect nabbed after an early morning heist in Millennium City

Robbery suspect nabbed after an early morning heist in Millennium City

July 11, 2025
Ablekuma North rerun takes centre stage today

Ablekuma North rerun takes centre stage today

July 11, 2025
Happy Ghana
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
    • International Sports
    • Afcon2017
    • Afcon2019
    • Corporate Knockout
    • U17 World Cup
    • World Cup 2018
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Bizarre
  • Feature
  • More
    • Technology
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyle
  • Listen Live
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
    • International Sports
    • Afcon2017
    • Afcon2019
    • Corporate Knockout
    • U17 World Cup
    • World Cup 2018
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Bizarre
  • Feature
  • More
    • Technology
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyle
  • Listen Live
No Result
View All Result
Happy Ghana
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports

Preview: Egypt vs Uruguay- Pharaohs dreaming big in first World Cup campaign since 1990

in Sports
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

Egypt are desperate to find the net on their first World Cup appearance since 1990 to silence a former player who continues to brag about the only goal the team scored 28 years ago. On a more serious note, an entire nation is dreaming big in the Russia finals.

Magdi Abdel-Ghani, now an Egyptian Football Association member, has dominated headlines and appeared in numerous television ads over the past few years with his endless talks about how he coolly converted a penalty against then European champions Netherlands in a famous 1-1 draw in Palermo.

With Egypt settling for a bore 0-0 draw against Ireland before losing 1-0 to England to suffer a first-round exit at the 1990 Italy finals, the stage was set for the former midfielder to boast about the solitary goal for years and years.
Mohamed Salah, a national hero, jokingly said he would be keen to score at the Russia finals to silence Abdel-Ghani. He gave Egypt a timely boost by fully recovering from a shoulder injury in time to make the team’s squad for the anticipated Group A opener against Uruguay on Friday.
The Liverpool forward was racing against time to be fit for the clash in Yekaterinburg after hurting shoulder ligaments in the Reds’ 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the European Champions League final on 26 May.
“Mo is doing very well indeed. He’s recovered very, very quickly – we’ve paid a lot of attention to him,” veteran coach Hector Cuper told a news conference on Thursday.
“I can almost assure you 100 percent that he will play, save unforeseen circumstances at the very last minute.”
Salah’s presence would be crucial to an Egypt side that is so dependent on the maverick forward to finish off their breakaways and make a fine start to their World Cup campaign before meeting hosts Russia and Arab Gulf side Saudi Arabia.
The seven-time African champions are aware they need to be at their best to have any chance of keeping at bay the likes of deadly marksmen Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, with Uruguay, who are 31 positions ahead of their opponents in the latest FIFA ranking, firm favourites to claim all three points.
Worrying form
Egypt’s pre-World Cup form has been worrying to a big extent. They could not win any of their five friendly games, at times struggling to carve out openings even against less illustrious teams.
There were positive signs in their first friendly in March though, with a Mohamed Salah goal giving them a surprise lead against Portugal, but the European champions roared back with two stoppage-time goals from Cristiano Ronaldo to turn the match on its head and secure a 2-1 win.
Egypt were lackluster in the subsequent warm-ups, losing to Greece 1-0, salvaging a late 1-1 draw at Kuwait, holding Colombia to a 0-0 draw before suffering a 3-0 defeat by a vibrant Belgium side.
But Cuper, who is credited for rebuilding an ailing side, is adamant his side would do better at the World Cup, playing down the significance of any unfavorable results in friendly matches.
The Argentinean is criticised by many fans and pundits for what they believe his overly-cautious approach. He said he understood the concerns of the supporters but also implied he could not take any risks and end up conceding easily.
“For three years and a few months we’ve decided on a certain path… We’ve achieved a lot by following that path, so with very little time before the World Cup it would be risky to change things substantially in our style,” Cuper said.
“I don’t like to practise at the World Cup with things we haven’t done before. Sometimes, you have to perfect and fine-tune the things that you do well.”
Although Egypt have become largely solid at the back, their central defensive duo are still finding it difficult to deal with the numerous crosses that are sent to their area in every single game, with the full backs barely closing down spaces down the flanks.
This will be particularly worrying against Uruguay, who arguably boast the deadliest strike force among the 32 teams at the World Cup.
“Perhaps we still need to work a bit more on defence,” Cuper admitted.
World Cup frenzy has engulfed Egypt in the past week. Television ads, billboards, newspaper articles and social media posts have aroused high passions in the football-mad country.
A draw for Egypt against Uruguay would be deemed an excellent result, but a win would be historic.
“Some people are saying that we will go there, play three matches and return home. But I believe we can make a great achievement,” Mo Salah said last month.
“People are pessimistic; they keep saying we should be realistic. But I do not agree, I believe we can do greater things.”

Subscribe to receive notification everytime a new post is published. We promise to be discrete.

Unsubscribe
Previous Post

Ghana's Afriyie Acquah tips Brazil to win 2018 World Cup

Next Post

Fred Pappoe hopes for immediate solution for Ghana football to save clubs

Next Post

Fred Pappoe hopes for immediate solution for Ghana football to save clubs

Search

No Result
View All Result

Listen Live

BBC Match of the Day Africa

Happy Ghana

Recent News

  • DRC and M23 rebels make progressive steps towards peace – Diplomatic Sources confirm
  • Kintampo South MP Urges swift passage of Startup Act to curb youth emigration
  • Collina Hails Referee Body Cams and New Rules at FIFA Club World Cup 2025
  • About
  • advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Happy FM – Powered by Ghana’s leading radio network. Designed with passion by Global Media Alliance.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
    • International Sports
    • Afcon2017
    • Afcon2019
    • Corporate Knockout
    • U17 World Cup
    • World Cup 2018
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Bizarre
  • Feature
  • More
    • Technology
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyle
  • Listen Live

© 2025 Happy FM – Powered by Ghana’s leading radio network. Designed with passion by Global Media Alliance.