Cairo, Egypt – Hossam Hassan, the coach of the Egyptian national team, confirmed that the national team was close to achieving a historic feat against Argentina in the 2026 World Cup. However, the circumstances of the match and the successive injuries caused a change in the course of the match.
Hossam Hassan, speaking on the “With You” program on ON TV, said that the Egyptian national team was under immense pressure throughout the match. He indicated that the referee’s handling of the game affected the players’ mental state. The match saw numerous challenges where fouls were not called in favor of the team, leading the players to feel they had been wronged.
He added that the coaching staff was forced to make all five substitutions due to injuries. He explained that Emam Ashour suffered a tear, while Haitham Hassan continued playing despite his injury until he was substituted. He also confirmed that Hassan was one of the team’s standout players in the match.
The coach explained that the rapid succession of events during the match didn’t give the players a chance to regain their focus. He also pointed out that the limited time and the difficult situation affected the team’s confidence, leading to a disorganization during the game.
Hossam Hassan spoke about the atmosphere in the locker room after the match. He confirmed that he felt deeply saddened because the team had come so close to achieving their goal. However, he made sure to boost the players’ morale and thanked them for their efforts. He also expressed his pride in their performance throughout the tournament.
The head coach also praised all members of the national team delegation, from the board of directors of the Football Association to the technical and administrative staff, and all the employees. He emphasized that the achievement was the result of everyone’s cooperation. He further explained that every individual within the organization played a role in this success.
Hossam Hassan concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the Egyptian national team’s participation in the World Cup yielded numerous benefits. Chief among these was the players gaining invaluable experience and the ability to compete with the world’s strongest teams. He noted that everyone endured immense pressure throughout the tournament. He also clarified that the primary objective was to bring joy to the Egyptian fans.
