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- Argentina vs Egypt FIFA World Cup 2026 R16 Match Highlights: ARG 3-2; Lionel Messi's Argentina script stunning comeback, storm into quarterfinals
Argentina staged one of the greatest comebacks in FIFA World Cup history, storming back from a two-goal deficit in the final eleven minutes to defeat a valiant Egypt 3-2 at the Atlanta Stadium and secure a breathtaking passage into the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup.
For 79 minutes, an organized and lethal Egypt side appeared on the cusp of a historic upset. Inspired by a marvelous opening header from Ibrahim and a devastating counter-attack finish by Mostafa Zico, the Pharaohs held a richly deserved 2-0 cushion. Even when Lionel Messi uncharacteristically missed a first-half penalty, denied by Mostafa Shobeir, who joined an elite club of just three goalkeepers this century to save two non-shootout penalties in a single tournament, Egypt looked immovable.
Then, the world champions unleashed a force of nature. Cristian Romero ignited the spark in the 79th minute with a vital lifeline. Just four minutes later, Lionel Messi redeemed his earlier heartbreak, capitalizing on a weak clearance to drill a clinical, trademark left-footed equalizer past Mostafa Shobeir, sending the stadium into absolute pandemonium.
Deep into seven minutes of stoppage time, with the game stretched like a basketball match, Leandro Paredes made a heroic last-man tackle to deny Egypt a three-on-two breakaway. Moments later, Argentina launched a lightning counter-attack of their own. Enzo Fernández met a sweeping cross in the center of the box, planting a powerful header into the back of the net. It was the 3,000th goal in World Cup history, a fitting milestone to settle a historic, breathless encounter.
That is a wrap for our live coverage of an unforgettable, historic night in Atlanta. We leave you with a final reflection on a match that will be talked about for generations.
Argentina were 2-0 down and heading out. Historically, this was a death sentence for the Albiceleste; they had lost all 13 of their previous World Cup fixtures when trailing by at least two goals. The weight of history, a resilient Egyptian defense, and a costly early penalty miss all seemed to conspire toward a shocking Round of 16 exit.
Then Lionel Messi took charge.
With his back against the wall, the maestro single-handedly turned the tide. By setting up Cristian Romero's lifeline in the 79th minute, Messi claimed his 9th career World Cup assist, surpassing the legendary Diego Maradona to become the outright all-time assist leader in tournament history.
He wasn't done. Just four minutes later, he fired home a stunning volley to level the match at 2-2. The clinical strike extended his own record-breaking all-time World Cup goal tally to 21 goals and catapulted him to the solo lead in the 2026 Golden Boot race.
Enzo Fernández may have completed the 3-2 turnaround in stoppage time, but tonight belongs to the history maker. From the brink of elimination to rewriting soccer immortality, Messi proves once again why he operates on a different planet. Thank you for tuning in!
While much will be written about the tactical adjustments and the sheer individual brilliance that fueled Argentina's historic comeback, the underlying story of this round-of-16 thriller is one of poise, maturity, and veteran leadership. When facing a shocking 2-0 deficit with just over ten minutes remaining, Lionel Scaloni’s side did not panic. Instead, they relied on a battle-hardened core that has quite literally seen it all.
Argentina’s starting XI against Egypt featured an average age of 30 years and 173 days. To put that into perspective, it stands as the second-oldest starting lineup the nation has ever fielded in its illustrious World Cup history. The only time the Albiceleste have ever deployed a more senior squad on the world stage was during the chaotic group stage of the 2018 tournament in Russia, where an XI averaging 30 years and 189 days narrowly defeated Nigeria 2-1 to escape elimination.
Following his crucial equalizer against Egypt, Lionel Messi has moved clear at the top of the goalscoring charts for the tournament.
Here is how the race stands at the summit:
Lionel Messi – 8 goals
Kylian Mbappé – 7 goals
Erling Haaland – 7 goals
Harry Kane – 6 goals
“I can’t look up, I’m sorry. I’m really emotional right now,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.
“What a group of players, man. That’s it, I’ve got to go.”
Full-time: Argentina 3 - 2 Egypt
Outside of shootouts, Egypt’s Mostafa Shobeir is one of only three goalkeepers this century to save two penalties in a World Cup tournament, along with Wojciech Szczęsny in 2022 and Brad Friedel in 2002.
Full-time: Argentina 3 - 2 Egypt
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Argentina have won after conceding the opening goal in the World Cup for the first time since 24th June 2006 against Mexico. They haven’t won any of the next four in which they conceded first.
They have never previously come from two goals down to win in the World Cup.
score: Argentina 3 - 2 Egypt
Lionel Messi, so often a study in cool detachment, is crying with delight. His missed penalty could have been so costly for Argentina; instead his assist and goal in a four-minute-and-18-second spell hauled his team back level, before Enzo Fernández sealed the deal in added time. Argentina cavort in a mix of glee and relief: number four is still on!
Egypt meanwhile stare into the distance in disbelief, having lost a two-goal lead that had been richly deserved. Mohamed Salah bereft. It won’t make much difference right now, but perhaps later it’ll be reassuring to know that they didn’t throw anything away today: they simply came up against a force of nature with genius in his boots.
Full-time: Argentina 3 - 2 Egypt
This would have been a heartbreaking defeat even without the sense of injustice they clearly feel as they wanted a penalty at the other end seconds before Argentina completed the turnaround on the break.
They led through a wonderful header from Ibrahim and despite coming under pressure battled gamely and looked dangerous on the break, with Mostafa Zico seeing one of the all-time World Cup goals ruled out by VAR before he did make it 2-0 after a counter which was almost as devastating.
They were always going to come under pressure, but the frustration will be that Mostafa Shobeir, who played brilliantly, got a good hand to both the first goal and the equaliser before the controversial stoppage-time winner.
That looks likely to be it for Mohamed Salah on the biggest stage.
Full-time: Argentina 3 - 2 Egypt
90+10'- Full-time in Atlanta. That is why Argentina are World Champions. That is why, for many, Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time.
An extraordinary game settled by the 3,000th goal in the history of the World Cup. From 2-0 down after 79 minutes, to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. Breathless, extraordinary. Football is the greatest game and this is the greatest stage.
score: Argentina 3 - 2 Egypt
90+8'- In the absolute dying embers of this chaotic match, tensions boil over. Egypt's midfielder Marwan Attia is shown a yellow card by the referee following a bad foul as his team desperately tried to regain possession.
Score: Argentina 3 - 2 Egypt
90+5'- With just two minutes of stoppage time remaining, Lionel Scaloni moves swiftly to secure the victory. Argentina make a defensive double substitution, bringing on veteran center-back Nicolás Otamendi and Facundo Medina to replace Cristian Romero and forward Julián Álvarez.
Meanwhile, Egypt make their final desperate throw of the dice, bringing Zizo onto the pitch in place of midfielder Mohanad Lasheen to add extra attacking power for the final whistle.
Score: Argentina 3 - 2 Egypt
90+2'- Absolute madness in Atlanta! Argentina have completed one of the most breathtaking comebacks in World Cup history.
Right after Leandro Paredes stopped the threat at the other end, Argentina launched a lightning-fast break. The ball was floated beautifully into the middle, and Enzo Fernández arrived right on cue in the center of the box to smash a powerful header past Mostafa Shobeir. From 2-0 down to 3-2 up in stoppage time. Unbelievable scenes!
score: Argentina 3 - 2 Egypt
90+1'- We are into seven added minutes and it is a basketball game. End to end, tired bodies and minds.
Last-man Leandro Paredes made a vital intervention to deny a three-on-two break from Egypt before Argentina almost bundled through at the other end.
Score: Argentina 2 - 2 Egypt
87'- The tactical dynamic has completely flipped. Egypt are desperately missing the out-ball to Hassan that served them so beautifully earlier in this half.
With Argentina pressing incredibly high, the pharaohs simply cannot retain possession or transition out of their own territory. They are completely trapped inside their own half at the moment, clinging on for dear life as the world champions swarm forward searching for a dramatic late winner.
Score: Argentina 2 - 2 Egypt
84'- It had to be him! the maestro redeems his first-half penalty miss and ARGENTINA have clawed back from the brink of death!
four minutes after Romero’s lifeline, the world champions strike again. EGYPT’s defense, under relentless, suffocating pressure, fails to properly clear their lines. the ball falls to Lionel Messi right in the center of the box.
with ice in his veins, Messi shifts it onto his magical left foot and fires a clinical, trademark finish past Mostafa Shobeir to send the Argentine fans into absolute delirium! two goals in four minutes. we are level!
score: ARGENTINA 2 - 2 EGYPT
81'- Immediately responding to Argentina's goal, Egypt manager makes a tactical shift to protect their lead while maintaining a lethal counter-attacking threat.
The heroic goalscorer Mostafa Zico, who ran himself into the ground and put the Pharaohs 2-0 up, walks off to a thunderous standing ovation from the crowd. On comes the fresh, lightning-fast Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush to spearhead the frontline for these final 10 minutes.
Score: Argentina 1 - 2 Egypt
79'- Game on in Atlanta! The reigning world champions have thrown themselves a monumental lifeline just when they seemed down and out.
Argentina earn a crucial set-piece opportunity, loading the penalty box with options. The ball is whipped in beautifully into the thick of the action, and Cristian Romero shows incredible desire. The powerhouse center-back rises highest in the center of the penalty area, completely overpowering his marker to unleash a bullet header.
Mostafa Shobeir has been unbeatable tonight, but this thunderous effort is hit with too much power and precision, flying past his outstretched hands into the net!
La Albiceleste have clawed their way back into the contest. The tension at the Atlanta Stadium is absolute gasoline right now—we have a grandstand finish on our hands!
Score: Argentina 1 - 2 Egypt
73'- The hydration break ends and play is underway. Lionel Scaloni makes another tactical move, swapping out right-back Nahuel Molina and bringing on Gonzalo Montiel to freshen up the flank for Argentina's final push.
Score: Argentina 0 - 2 Egypt
70'- The referee blows for a mandatory hydration break, giving both sets of players a much-needed breather in the intense Atlanta heat—but for Lionel Scaloni, this is a tactical lifeline. The Argentina manager is completely animated, aggressively re-shaping his whiteboard and barking instructions at Messi and Lautaro Martínez. They have 20 minutes to save their World Cup crown.
Meanwhile, the story of this second half belongs entirely to Haissem Hassan. His explosive, relentless ball-carrying down the flanks has completely shifted the tactical landscape of this match. Every time he drives forward, he unbalances the Argentine backline, relieving immense pressure for Egypt and engineering the transitions that led to Zico's second goal. It's a individual masterclass that is potentially sending shockwaves through the entire tournament.
Can Scaloni's last push break the Pharaohs, or are we witnessing the end of an era?
Score: Argentina 0 - 2 Egypt
67'- Argentina throw numbers forward and leave themselves completely exposed at the back. Egypt win possession deep and launch an absolutely devastating, razor-sharp counter-attack. The ball is quickly fed into the path of Mostafa Zico, who bursts through the center of the pitch completely untracked.
With the composure of a veteran assassin, Zico drives into the center of the box and side-foots a flawless right-footed shot past a helpless Emi Martinez into the back of the net!
No flags, no fouls, no VAR intervention this time. The world champions are in absolute disarray in Atlanta, and Egypt are twenty-three minutes away from pulling off one of the greatest shocks in modern football history!
Score: Argentina 0 - 2 Egypt
65'- Realizing the clock is ticking away, Lionel Scaloni rings the changes with a high-stakes, double substitution. Argentina are throwing complete caution to the wind to rescue this match.
Lautaro Martínez comes on to replace midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, adding a second lethal striker alongside Julian Alvarez.
Nico González enters the fray in place of left-back Nicolás Tagliafico, giving La Albiceleste plenty of direct pace and width on the flank.
It is a massive statement of intent—Argentina have sacrificed a midfielder and a traditional defender to go with an ultra-aggressive attacking frontline. Can they finally break the Egyptian resistance?
Score: Argentina 0 - 1 Egypt
61'- To add insult to injury for Egypt, Mostafa Zico enters the referee's notebook!
The Egyptian winger was so swept up in the emotion of his stunning counter-attacking strike that he went completely overboard with his celebrations before realizing the whistle had already blown. Referee François Letexier wastes no time and firmly brandishes a yellow card for excessive celebration. From absolute euphoria to a booking and a disallowed goal in the span of sixty seconds—a cruel blow for Zico!
Score: Argentina 0 - 1 Egypt
59'- High drama here in Atlanta! Egypt thought they had just scored one of the greatest counter-attacking goals in World Cup history, but the celebrations are cut brutally short.
It started deep in the Egyptian half. Haissem Hassan danced elegantly past his marker to spark a lightning-fast break, turning on the afterburners down the right wing. He cut infield and picked out Mohamed Salah, who perfectly weighted a sublime, defense-splitting pass into the penalty area. Mostafa Zico, timing his run flawlessly from the left, beat Emi Martinez to the ball and whipped a glorious, composed finish into the back of the net!
The stadium absolutely erupted, but referee François Letexier was already shaking his head. VAR confirms there was a clear foul in the defensive build-up at the other end of the pitch right before Hassan launched the break. The majestic goal is wiped off the scoreboard, and play pulls all the way back for an Argentine free-kick. It will live on in the memory only—what a letdown for the Pharaohs!
Score: Argentina 0 - 1 Egypt
55'- With the world champions throwing all their big aerial threats forward into the box, everyone expects a signature Messi cross to unlock the defense. Instead, the captain opts to take it short, completely catching his own teammates off guard.
The clever routine misfires completely. Egypt's disciplined defensive shape refuses to budge, forcing a retreating Argentina to pass all the way back to the halfway line just to retain possession. A massive waste of a set-piece when they desperately need to test Shobeir!
Score: Argentina 0 - 1 Egypt
51'- Absolute heart-in-mouth stuff for Argentina! La Albiceleste are comfortably passing and probing on the edge of the Egyptian final third when Leandro Paredes suffers a major lapse in concentration, letting the ball roll right under his foot.
In a flash, Mohamed Salah pounces on the loose ball and is completely away on the counter!
However, referee François Letexier comes to Argentina's rescue, blowing his whistle for an incredibly soft free-kick against Egypt. To be fair to the defenders, Salah would have had a whopping 80 yards to sprint by himself and likely would have been tracked down, but the quick whistle robs the Pharaohs of a massive counter-attacking opportunity. Argentina survive a massive scare!
Score: Argentina 0 - 1 Egypt
48'- As expected, it’s a relentless wave of white and sky-blue shirts attacking right from the restart. Egypt have explicitly set up their stall for the second half, packing a disciplined block of nine men tightly behind the ball.
Argentina patiently probe the fringes of the crowded penalty area until Lionel Messi shifts his weight, cleverly works a pocket of space, and tees up Rodrigo De Paul. The midfielder strikes a low, driven effort from 20 yards out, but it lacks the necessary placement. Mostafa Shobeir handles it with absolute composure, making a routine save to keep the frustrated world champions at bay.
Score: Argentina 0 - 1 Egypt
46'- The players are back out on the pitch at a buzzing Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the second half is officially underway.
Egypt have been forced into an immediate tactical change at the interval due to an unfortunate setback. Midfielder Emam Ashour picked up a knock late in the first half and is unable to continue. On comes the robust Hamdi Fathy to replace him, offering plenty of defensive grit to protect that precious one-goal lead.
Argentina haven't made any changes yet. Can Lionel Scaloni's men finally break through the Pharaohs' wall?
Score: Argentina 0 - 1 Egypt
45+6'- François Letexier blows the whistle, bringing a truly monumental and chaotic first half to an end in Atlanta. The reigning world champions walk off the pitch trailing, completely frustrated, and facing an uphill battle against an inspired Egyptian team.
Argentina have thrown everything forward, dominating possession and registering 10 shots, but they have looked highly vulnerable to Egypt's defensive discipline. Rami Rabia managed to shake off a painful back landing just before the whistle, ensuring the Pharaohs reach the break with their clean sheet intact.
Lionel Scaloni has 15 minutes to completely reinvent his tactical approach. Can Egypt pull off one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, or will the holders engineer a classic second-half comeback?
First-Half Summary:
The Breakthrough (15'): Center-back Yasser Ibrahim sent the stadium into absolute bedlam, rising above the Argentine defense to header home Marwan Attia's corner.
The Penalty Drama (21'): Lionel Messi had a golden opportunity to level from 12 yards, but his low effort to the bottom right was sensationally denied by a flying Mostafa Shobeir.
The Shobeir Wall: Egypt's goalkeeper put on a world-class clinics, denying a firm Alexis Mac Allister header, watching a Messi free-kick rattle the woodwork, and pulling off an impossible low save against Julian Alvarez.
45+3'- A heavy, bone-jarring impact halts play in these final minutes of the half. Rami Rabia rises high to contest a towering aerial duel but loses his balance mid-air, coming down hard and landing completely flat on his back.
He is visibly winded and looks in significant discomfort on the turf. The referee immediately stops the clock to allow the Egyptian medical staff to attend to the veteran defender. It’s all about survival now for the Pharaohs as they try to navigate these final moments before the whistle.
Score: Argentina 0 - 1 Egypt
44'- Mostafa Shobeir caps off an absolutely flawless first-half display. Lionel Messi attempts to manufacture an opening before the break, clipping a dangerous, looping free-kick into the penalty area from deep on the right flank.
But Shobeir reads it like a book, confidently flying off his line to pluck the high ball out of the Atlanta sky with absolute ease. He has been a towering presence for the Pharaohs. The fourth official holds up the board—we will have FIVE minutes of added time to end this monumental first half. Can Argentina break the lock, or will Egypt go into the interval ahead?
Score: Argentina 0 - 1 Egypt
40'- Mostafa Shobeir is single-handedly building a fortress in front of the Egyptian goal! Argentina carve out an absolute gilt-edged, textbook opportunity to level the score, but they are denied by yet another breathtaking stop.
Nicolas Tagliafico makes a lung-bursting run down the overlap and fires a perfectly weighted, close-range cut-back across the face of the six-yard box. Julian Alvarez meets it cleanly with a sharp, first-time strike. It looks like a certain goal—Alvarez absolutely has to score from there—but Shobeir displays unnatural, cat-like reflexes. The Egyptian shot-stopper flings himself low to his left, getting a crucial fingertip to the ball to turn it mere inches past the post!
38'- Lionel Messi’s evening goes from bad to worse as his personal frustration boils over. The captain does brilliantly to pinch the ball back deep in the Egyptian half, immediately exchanging slick, rapid passes with Julian Alvarez to carve open a pocket of space on the right side of the penalty area.
He shifts the ball onto his lethal left foot, but instead of finding the top corner, he rushes the finish and fires it high and wide of the far post. Messi instantly looks up to the heavens, muttering in utter disbelief. The maestro is human after all, and Egypt's lead remains intact!
Score: Argentina 0 - 1 Egypt
36'- Talk about ambitious! Egypt's left-back, Mohanad Hafez, picks up the ball in midfield and decides to have a go from a whopping 35 yards out.
There's optimistic, and then there's this. He catches it entirely on the wrong side of his boot, and the ball flies roughly 35 yards wide of the right post while rising to a similar, astronomical height. A total waste of possession that sails harmlessly into the Atlanta stands, much to the amusement of the Argentine fans.
34'- A momentary scare for Lionel Scaloni as Julian Alvarez goes down in a heap. The 26-year-old Atletico Madrid striker contested a heavily bouncing ball with Mohanad Lasheen and caught a nasty, painful knock in the process.
The Argentine players immediately look to referee François Letexier, but he deems it a fair, 50-50 challenge and waves away the mild protests. Thankfully for La Albiceleste, after a brief moment to shake off the impact, Alvarez is back up on his feet and looks completely fit to continue.
30'- Lionel Messi comes agonizingly close to making amends! Argentina win a set-piece 30 yards out, and the skipper steps up, whipping a gorgeous, curling effort over the wall.
It leaves the stadium breathless as it thuds sharply against the outside of the post! Replays suggest the flying Mostafa Shobeir likely had it covered anyway, but the margins are razor-thin. Argentina are pushing with everything they have!
28'- Mostafa Shobeir is quickly becoming an absolute wall in the Egyptian goal! Argentina have just missed a glorious opportunity to pull level.
Rodrigo De Paul carves open some space on the right wing and whips an absolute peach of a cross right into the heart of the penalty area. Alexis Mac Allistertimes his run to perfection, escaping his marker to meet the ball with a powerful, firm header.
It looks destined for the back of the net, but it’s just a little too close to the Egyptian shot-stopper. Shobeir flashes incredible reflexes once more, throwing himself to his right to brilliantly push the ball away and preserve Egypt's sensational lead. The world champions are knocking heavily on the door, but Shobeir simply refuses to let them in!
23'- The referee blows for a cooling break, and honestly, everyone inside the stadium needs a moment to process those last ten minutes. What an absolutely breathless, frantic phase of football!
From Yasser Ibrahim’s historic opening header to Mostafa Shobeir's heroic penalty save against Lionel Messi, this Round of 16 clash has turned completely on its head.
Lionel Scaloni is using this brief intermission to passionately re-organize his troops on the touchline. There is serious tactical work for the world champions to do if they want to break down this resilient Egyptian side. As for Messi, he's cutting a deeply frustrated figure right now and will be absolutely desperate to make amends for that rare miss from 12 yards out.
20'- The world champions are handed a lifeline, but Mostafa Shobeir produces a moment that will be remembered in Egyptian football history forever!
Argentina were awarded a penalty after intense pressure inside the box. Up stepped the talismanic captain Lionel Messi, looking to level the score and anchor his team. Messi strikes it with his lethal left foot, aiming low and hard into the bottom right corner.
But Mostafa Shobeir anticipates it perfectly! The young Egyptian shot-stopper flies across his line, stretches out an arm, and makes a spectacular, full-length diving save to deny the legendary number 10! The Egyptian fans in the stadium are in absolute raptures. The underdogs hold onto their historic lead!
17'- High drama inside the Argentinian penalty box! Mohamed Salah shows a signature burst of acceleration to cut across the edge of the box and is clipped by a lunging Leandro Paredes right inside the 'D'.
The Egyptian forward goes down, and the entire Pharaohs bench rises in unison demanding a penalty or at least a dangerous free-kick. However, French referee François Letexier aggressively waves play on, completely unmoved by the frantic protests.
Replays show substantial contact from Paredes. A free-kick awarded right on the edge of the area would have had the defending champions utterly rattled, but Argentina survive a massive scare!
15'- The underdogs have taken the lead! Egypt strike first from a set-piece, and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium has absolutely erupted!
It all stems from a corner kick won down the right. Marwan Attia steps up and delivers a delicious, pin-point cross right into the danger zone. Center-back Yasser Ibrahim rises highest in the center of the box, completely outjumping the Argentine markers, and steers a powerful header into the bottom right corner past a diving Emiliano Martinez!
The defending champions have been stunned. Egypt’s historic fairytale continues—can Messi and co. respond to this massive wake-up call?
10'- Flashpoints of pure quality from the world champions! Argentina suddenly shift gears and spring dangerously to life, moving the ball with breathtaking, one-touch precision through the central channels. For a second, the Egyptian defense was pulled completely out of shape.
The Pharaohs' backline was scrambling, but they managed to throw enough bodies in the way to block the final goal bound effort and scramble the ball clear.
7'- Ahmed Hassan wins a set-piece for Egypt down the right flank after being caught by Nicolas Tagliafico. Hassan looked incredibly lively coming off the bench in their previous game against Australia, and he's already justifying his start tonight by asking questions of the Argentine backline.
The Pharaohs opt for a short, tricky routine, but the momentum stalls. By the time the cross is finally swung into the box, Cristian Romero is well-positioned to command his area. Argentina clear their lines with ease. A wasted opportunity for Egypt to really test 'Dibu' Martinez early on.
5'- It has been a meticulous, tactical opening five minutes at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Argentina are dominating the early possession and trying to dictate the tempo, but Egypt’s defensive block looks incredibly compact and disciplined.
There's an intriguing subtext here: will Lionel Scaloni's men feel the physical toll of their grueling, extra-time battle against Cape Verde just four days ago? The Albiceleste are looking to move the ball quickly to stretch the pitch, but the Pharaohs are standing firm, refusing to yield an inch of space.
3'- Lionel Messi shows his first flash of intent, dropping deep into midfield to orchestrate play. The captain spots Nicolas Tagliafico making an overlapping run down the inside-left channel and attempts a trademark, defense-splitting reverse pass.
He just overcooks it slightly on the slick Atlanta turf, and the ball rolls harmlessly out for an Egyptian goal kick. A rare miscue from the maestro, proof that even the greatest aren't completely perfect! Egypt breathe an early sigh of relief.
1'- Referee François Letexier blows his whistle, and we are underway at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium! Egypt, clad in their traditional red shirts, get us started, immediately probing the right flank through Mohamed Salah. Argentina in their iconic sky-blue and white stripes look sharp, setting up an immediate high press to suffocate the Pharaohs.
A place in the World Cup quarterfinals is on the line. Lionel Messi vs. Mohamed Salah—let the drama unfold!
The stadium is absolutely rocking as the national anthems ring out across Atlanta!
First up was a spine-tingling, passionate rendition of the Argentinian anthem, with Lionel Messi and the Albiceleste looking locked in. That was immediately followed by a powerful, roaring response from the Egyptian squad and their traveling faithful.
While Egypt’s passionate supporters have turned up in huge numbers, it is a sea of sky blue and white dominating the stadium. The numbers battle has been won by Argentina in the stands—now it's time to see who wins it on the pitch!
History is on the line tonight in Atlanta as Argentina and Egypt face off for the very first time in World Cup history. Here is a quick look at the numbers that define this clash:
The Rare Meeting: This is the first competitive meeting between these two sides since a 2008 international friendly in Cairo, which Argentina comfortable won 2-0.
African Dominance: Argentina are currently riding an incredible eight-game winning streak against African nations at the World Cup. Two of those victories have come in this very tournament, a 3-0 dispatching of Algeria and that breathless 3-2 extra-time thriller against Cape Verde.
A World Cup First: If La Albiceleste emerge victorious tonight, they will become the first team in World Cup history to win three matches against African opposition in a single edition of the tournament.
The stage is set, the histories are written, and the whistle is about to blow!
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Source: The Times of India
