Egyptians dream of toppling Argentina in historic World Cup match
Streets lined with flags, conversations centred on one match and hopes pinned on the team ahead of Egypt vs Argentina. Cairo, Egypt — In the
Streets lined with flags, conversations centred on one match and hopes pinned on the team ahead of Egypt vs Argentina. Cairo, Egypt — In the hours before a historic day for millions of Egyptians, the scene is set across the country: flags flutter over cars and balconies, patriotic songs blare from loudspeakers, and cafes are transformed into mini stadiums. And from public transport to workplaces and markets, every conversation is centred around one question: Will the Pharaohs continue their historic World Cup run when they play against Argentina? Egypt face the reigning world champions in a round-of-16 fixture in Atlanta, United States, on Tuesday. But the match is no longer a mere football contest – it has become a national event that transcends the boundaries of the football pitch. The national team has restored hope by reaching the tournament’s knockouts for the first time and has opened the door to a long-awaited dream of competing alongside football’s giants. The match holds deeper meaning for fans following Egyptian head coach Hossam Hassan’s passionate show of support for Palestine in the aftermath of his team’s win over Australia in their round-of-32 match on Friday. Israeli media were quick to attack the Egyptian coach and team, and Israeli influencers called for their compatriots to support Argentina against Egypt.
Hope, belief and pride in Cairo A day before kickoff, Egyptian cafes hosted heated debates, and locals travelling on public transport exchanged tactics, predictions and analysis. An immense pride in the team’s achievements was on display and sowed the seeds of belief in the Pharaohs’ ability to continue their historic run when they face off against the most daunting opponents. Ragab Mohamed, a construction contractor, said the round-of-16 match was “an honourable achievement for all Egyptians”. Fans, including Mahmoud, who did not share his last name and was busy watching Brazil get knocked out by Norway at a cafe in the Hadayek October area of Giza, noted that the Egyptian team had delivered impressive performances throughout the tournament. He reserved special praise for captain Mohamed Salah and credited the team with raising the public’s hopes with every result. Mohamed believes Salah and Emam Ashour have been the standout players, and coach Hassan the surprise element, but he was quick to acknowledge that, regardless of the result against Argentina, the team has been a “source of pride”. For Adham Adel, a doctor in Giza, Egypt’s run is reminiscent of Morocco’s historic performance at the Qatar World Cup 2022. He urged the team to go one step further, saying his ambition is to see Egypt in the quarterfinals.
The BriefWire