SAM’S SALAH DAZE
Morsy’s amazing journey to Egypt’s World Cup squad via Port Vale and Wigan and his admiration for Kop icon - and team-mate - Mo
OF all the 736 players at the World Cup, none can match Sam Morsy’s odyssey to get there.
Starting with his home-town club Wolves, who released him at 16, Morsy’s route to Russia with Egypt has travelled through spells with Port Vale, Chesterfield, Barnsley and Wigan.
It is a journey which has taken Morsy (right) more than six years since the Egyptian football website, King Fut, first spotted the combative midfielder, then a teenager at Port Vale with big dreams.
They told him to keep progressing because he qualified for the Pharaohs through his Egyptian dad Mekawy.
King Fut championed his cause in Egypt and coach Hector Cuper, of Valencia and Inter Milan fame, handed him his first cap in August 2016 against Guinea.
“While I was at Port Vale, the Egyptian website King Fut contacted me because they knew my dad was Egyptian,” he said. “The Egyptian fans began to become aware of me, especially when I went to Chesterfield and we had a couple of semi-final play-off games on Sky in 2015.
“But it wasn’t until two seasons ago the Egyptian FA contacted me and told me I was going to be called into the squad.”
The Argentinian Cuper, who speaks to Morsy in English, likes the Wigan captain’s energetic style. Morsy is also a natural leader and was on the bench for that mad game against DR Congo in Alexandria when Mo Salah scored with the last kick to send Egypt to their first World Cup since 1990.
“That penalty moment was just incredible, unbelievable,” said Morsy, who helped Wigan to the League One title last month (below). “We’d conceded in the 90th minute, so the crowd of 80odd thousand went from chanting and setting off fireworks to absolute silence.
“Our keeper, Essam El-Hadary, who is 45 and a legend, was trying to get the crowd going and then we got that penalty for the last kick of the game.
“Salah showed huge composure to score, and that sparked a pitch invasion.”
Morsy, 26, loves the atmosphere among the Pharaohs and has fully embraced the culture and religion of his adopted homeland.
He feels very much part of the squad and says Kop sensation Salah has played a key role in helping him integrate.
“He’s a brilliant guy,” he said. “He’s very relaxed. He’s the superstar of the team and he’s had a phenomenal season with Liverpool.
“He’s made me feel very welcome.
“He speaks to all the players and is very respectful and humble.
“He’s an amazing character to have around because of how nice and grounded he is.”
Morsy won his fourth cap in the friendly against Colombia at the start of the month and is excited about facing hosts Russia, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
He has come a long way from watching the World Cup on TV as a kid at his mate’s house in Wolverhampton.
“I remember watching the World Cup at my friend’s house and now to play on this stage, against players like Luis Suarez, will be a dream come true for me,” he said.