Salah spends time with team to raise hopes
He seems to be doing fine even if he isn’t actually training, a fan says
Encircled by expectant cheers of Egyptian fans, Mohammad Salah appeared at the Pharaohs’ final pre-World Cup training session and kindled hopes he can overcome injury to aid Egypt’s first shot at the tournament in nearly three decades.
Liverpool’s star striker, who is recovering from a shoulder injury that saw him crash out of the Champions League final, strolled around the Cairo pitch talking to colleagues and supporters, but did not take part in the team’s last late night practice before heading to Russia.
Horns blasted, snack-sellers hollered and chants of “Come Salah, Come Salah!” rang through the capital’s stadium, crowded by thousands of fans keen to encourage their team ahead of their first World Cup appearance since 1990.
Salah, who hit a stunning 44 goals for Liverpool last season following his move from Roma, is the linchpin of Egyptian hopes in Russia.
He has been picked for the World Cup squad despite having been forced out of the Liverpool’s 3-1 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in tears clutching his left shoulder.
Many of his fans had feared he would miss the World Cup altogether, but his appearance in Cairo has reignited expectations in The Pharaohs’ key striker.
Sliver of hope
“He will participate, God willing, he must,” said Seif Ibrahim, a 24-year-old salesman wearing Salah’s Egypt jersey. Fans screamed in delight when Salah’s name was read out over the loudspeaker, while those able to get to the pitch took selfies with their hero.
He gave fans a sliver of hope when he managed to briefly dribble the ball on the corner of the pitch, before returning to the sidelines.
“I was so sad, but now I’m happy to see him in real life, and he seems to be doing fine even if he isn’t actually training with the others,” said Nahed Mostafa, 38, who attended the session with her young children.
The Pharaohs, record seventime African champions, have qualified for the World Cup for only the third time.
World Cup hopefuls France salvaged a late 1-1 draw against the United States in their final friendly before the tournament, while fellow title favourites Spain also needed a late goal as they edged past Tunisia 1-0.
Elsewhere, there were wins for finalists Serbia, Denmark, Morocco and Australia, while Sweden were held to a goalless draw by Peru.
Didier Deschamps named a strong side as he sought to put the finishing touches to his preparations before travelling to Russia. However, Julian Green took advantage of a Djibril Sidibe slip to fire a near post effort past Hugo Lloris on the stroke of halftime to give the visitors a shock lead.
US, who did not qualify for Russia, looked as if they would hold onto their advantage until Kylian Mbappe spared Deschamps’s blushes 12 minutes from time.
There remains plenty of unanswered questions for Les Bleus heading into next weekend’s opener against Australia, who beat Hungary 2-1 earlier on Saturday.
Elsewhere, fellow Group C members Denmark recorded a 2-0 win over fellow finalists Mexico thanks to strikes from Yussuf Poulsen and Christian Eriksen, while Peru played out a stalemate with Sweden, who will also be in Russia.
Mexico were unconvincing in the first half on Saturday and posed little danger on attack, while only a strong performance by goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa kept Denmark off the board for the first 45 minutes. They appeared to get a lift from several substitutions at the start of the second half and at the 60-minute mark and began taking more possession of the ball.
Even so, Denmark continued to monopolise the scoring chances.
Finally, the home side opened the scoring in the 71st minute when striker Yussuf Poulsen skilfully manoeuvred around a pair of defenders and got off a curling left-footed strike that gave Ochoa no chance.
Caught napping
On the second goal, the Mexicans were caught napping on a throw-in and allowed midfielder Christian Eriksen to score in a one-on-one opportunity against Mexico’s net minder in the 74th minute.
It appeared as if it would be as equally a frustrating night for 2010 champions Spain as they struggled to break down a Tunisia side, who caused them difficulties on the counterattack.
Former Liverpool forward Iago Aspas swept in after good work from Diego Costa six minutes from the end to secure the win and ensure coach Julen Lopetegui remains undefeated in his first 20 games in charge.
Their Group B rivals Morocco resoundingly brushed past Estonia 3-1, while Serbia hammered Bolivia 5-1. Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic hit a hat-trick and former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic netted a stunning volley in the rout.