Key facts
- Egypt will play Belgium in its World Cup opener.
- Egypt has never won a World Cup match.
- Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush are key attacking players for Egypt.
- Belgium boasts experienced players like Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku.
- Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan expressed confidence in his team's ability to compete and advance.
- Egypt has a historical advantage in exhibition matches against Belgium.
Egypt is preparing to face Belgium in its World Cup opener, with coach Hossam Hassan expressing confidence in his team's ability to compete despite their underdog status. Hassan highlighted the attacking prowess of Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, acknowledging that Belgium manager Rudi Garcia has taken notice.
Despite Egypt's historical struggles in the World Cup, having never won a match and only leading once in seven games, Hassan believes the current generation is capable of advancing past the group stage. He noted that Egypt has a favorable record in exhibition matches against Belgium, winning three out of four encounters.
Belgium, featuring experienced players like Kevin De Bruyne and rising stars such as Jérémy Doku, faces pressure to improve on its 2022 performance. Hassan respects the Belgian team's capabilities but emphasized that Egypt possesses many talents beyond Salah and Marmoush who can contribute to the team's success.