Salah’s hamstring gamble looms over Egypt-Australia

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan says Mohamed Salah will only play against Australia if he is fully ready after being forced out of Egypt’s final group match against Iran with a left hamstring strain. Hassan’s “we are not playing rugby” line on Australia’s physicalit

The stakes couldn’t be higher, and neither could the clock. Mohamed Salah is fighting to be available for Egypt’s World Cup round-of-32 knockout against Australia at Dallas Stadium after being forced out of Egypt’s final group match against Iran with a left hamstring strain.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan made it clear that Salah’s inclusion will be decided by readiness rather than hope. Salah. 34. trained with the rest of the squad in a portion of Egypt’s light session that was open to media on Thursday. but Hassan also suggested he could be limited to an impact role off the bench.

“Hassan via an interpreter” said the injury happened during the second half against Iran, and that Salah asked to be substituted. “Our very distinguished medical department took care of that, and we tried to introduce him to partial team training as of yesterday only.”

Hassan then drew a line between ambition and risk. “I won’t risk playing Mohamed Salah against Australia unless I’m fully confident in his readiness.” He added that he may not even start the captain. “I might not risk starting Salah because he’s gradually returned to training. He participated in a training session, but only part of it. I’m still considering…”.

The plan, as Hassan described it, is still moving. He said Salah joined the group after physiotherapy and that sessions were then continued with Egypt’s medical department. “He returned to partial team training since yesterday. And based on my choices. I am planning to have him in the match. whether in the starting lineup or at a later stage.”.

That uncertainty sits over a game with a place in the World Cup round of 16 on the line. The match is set for Friday (Saturday AEST). For Egypt. it is their first-ever knockout appearance at the tournament. and the team wants a maiden win on that stage. For Australia. it is one more step in a blockbuster showdown in which Salah’s status alone will loom over how the Socceroos prepare.

Salah’s fitness reality has been shaped by what he had to do just to get here. He is currently without a club after leaving Liverpool, and his drive to play comes with an obvious edge: any further setback could close doors as quickly as they open.

For many of the Socceroos, Salah is the most high-profile player they will have faced in their careers. His record at Liverpool gives the tournament a different kind of tension. Salah scored 257 goals and notched 120 assists for Liverpool across 442 appearances. That spell delivered trophies, including the Premier League in 2019-20 and 2024-25 and the Champions League in 2018-19.

Hassan also faced questions about Australia’s height and physicality, and he responded with a line that landed as much as a warning as it did a joke. “We will be fine,” he said with a smile. “We are not playing rugby here, we are playing football.”

The way Egypt approaches the match could hinge on how Salah is used. Whether he starts or comes on later could affect what coach Tony Popovic chooses for Australia. including whether he deploys dynamic wing-back Jordan Bos on the right or returns him to the left with an eye on managing Salah’s threat.

Egypt’s knockout debut. Salah’s fitness gamble. and the physical challenge Australia are preparing for all collide in the same place at the same time. By kickoff at Dallas Stadium. the question won’t be whether Salah matters—it will be whether Egypt can count on him enough to pay the price of bringing him into the fight.

Egypt Australia World Cup Salah Mohamed Salah Hossam Hassan Dallas Stadium Socceroos Iran hamstring strain round of 16 Jordan Bos Tony Popovic