Salah fit to make World Cup debut for Egypt

Egypt talisman Mohamed Salah is fit to play in the country’s first World Cup match in 28 years.

Pharaohs manager Hector Cuper has offered “100%” assurance the Liverpool forward will be in the side to face Uruguay in the Group A game in Ekaterinburg.

Salah sustained a shoulder injury during the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid on May 26 but trained with the ball for the first time on Wednesday, convincing Cuper he is ready.

“Salah has recovered and will play tomorrow. And nothing prevents him from competing for the title of the Golden Boot,” he told his pre-match press conference.

“I assure you 100% that he will be with us tomorrow, barring unforeseen circumstances.”

The hopes of a nation rest on Salah, who scored the penalty which secured their first World Cup appearance since 1990.

It is also a momentous day for the Liverpool player, who is set to make his World Cup debut on his 26th birthday – which also coincides with the start of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that celebrates the conclusion of Ramadan.

Meanwhile Iran coach Carlos Queiroz is refusing to be distracted by Spain’s coaching calamities as his team prepare to kick off their 2018 World Cup campaign against Morocco in Saint Petersburg.

Spain and Queiroz’s native Portugal make up the rest of Group B but the 65-year-old insisted it would be “disrespectful” to bring up the sudden departure of Julen Lopetegui to Real Madrid.

Queiroz, himself a former Real Madrid coach, deflected questions on the issue at his pre-match press conference, saying: “It would be disrespectful to Morocco if I shifted my words to Spain.”

Mo Salah at training yesterday.