Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Painful end for Salah’s dream
MOHAMED S a l a h ’s exceptional season is set to come to an agonising end after hosts Russia all but extinguished Egypt’s World Cup hopes.
A dream first season at Liverpool established the 26-year-old as one of the star names at these finals, with expectations heightened as his country strutted out on the global stage for the first time since 1990.
But the shoulder injury sustained i n t he Reds’ Champions League Final defeat to Real Madrid derailed preparations, meaning Salah was reduced to a watching brief as Group A started with a late defeat to Uruguay.
That l oss was compounded emphatically as the forward started in St Petersburg, where his penalty was only a consolation as Egypt lost 3-1 to Russia.
“I think that nobody can deny or argue Mo Salah’s importance in the Egypt national team,” Egypt head coach Hector Cuper said after a loss that leaves them facing a group-stage exit.
“What would have happened if he’d been on top form in both matches? Well, that’s very hard to say now.
“But I think that he would have given us all his quality and his ability.
“Mo Salah was feeling good to play yesterday.
“You’ve seen him on the pitch, he was in good shape and nobody can argue that he i sn’t extremely important to the team.
“But I always say behind a player or two brilliant players, there has to be a team and I feel proud because I’ve had a team.”
Egypt will be knocked out if Uruguay avoid defeat against Saudi Arabia today, with their seemingly imminent exit leading Cuper to come under immediate pressure.
“If those responsible are not happy with what I have done then I will be the first to leave,” he said.