Egypt vs Australia
After making history last week, the Pharaohs of Egypt are chasing a treble in the World Cup 2026.
First, they won a match in the competition for the first time as they saw off New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver. Then they followed it up with a 1-1 draw with Iran in Seattle to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in the nation’s history.
So, if three is the magic number, then what is to stop the team managed by Hossam Hassan, a key player for his country at Italia 90, from making new ground again by delivering more World Cup 2026 highlights and guiding them to the last 16 for the first time? An astute Australia side, that’s what.
Talking Points
The truth is, while Egypt were always fancied to emerge from Group G, Australia faced a slightly tougher overall pairing in Group D. That they made it through was a credit to Tony Popovic and his men.
My question mark against them is which side turns up for this last 32 tie. Will it be the team which so impressed in their opener against Turkey or the team which, just five days later, offered so little against the USA?
Against the Turks, there were strong showings wherever you looked, not least goalkeeper Patrick Beach on his competitive debut, Watford man Nestory Irankunda, whose explosive pace can cause any side problems, or Connor Metcalfe, who scored the second goal in a 2-0 win to consign the Turks to a first defeat in eight, from which they never recovered.
That set the tone for a country which reached the last 16 at the 2022 World Cup, matching their best-ever performance at the tournament.
To repeat that feat and send Egypt home, they will need to replicate that display, rather than the one that followed with a loss by the same scoreline to the co-hosts of the US.
It was a match in which both Irankunda and Metcalfe were on the bench, and the Socceroos never got going.
Not that it’s been all plain sailing for Egypt, whose victory over the other southern hemisphere participants, New Zealand, was book-ended by draws with Iran and Belgium.
The latter was a fine result, and while like many African nations, they have benefited greatly from FIFA’s 48-team tournament expansion, and there is enough talent in the ranks for them to make more history.
They will be hoping star man Mohamed Salah, closing in on Hassan’s record as Egypt’s all-time leading scorer (he needs just one more goal to draw level), can shake off a hamstring strain to start. Salah was absent from training on Monday, instead doing rehabilitation work alongside defenders Ahmed Fatouh and Mohamed Abdelmonem.
Hamdy Fathy, for his part, was a limited participant in the session as he targets a return to a midfield that will be without the suspended Mohanad Lasheen.
For the Aussies, this is their chance to win a knockout match for the first time.
Perhaps they will have revenge on their minds too after Egypt ended Australian medal hopes at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Whatever happens, Dallas will play host to some World Cup history. Who are you backing?
History
Two previous meetings, one win apiece. The first clash came in a 1987 friendly, a goalless draw in the Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Seoul before the sides contested a penalty shootout in which the Aussies triumphed 4-3.
When they next met in another friendly in 2010 in Cairo, Egypt ran out 3-0 winners, courtesy of Ahmed Abdelzaher, Gedo, and a Mohamed Zidan penalty.
Betting Tip
Can lightning strike twice? Correct Score with the SBOTOP World Cup 2026 betting odds suggests not, given you can find odds of another 3-0 Egyptian win @ 32.00 or a goalless draw @ 5.80. I wouldn’t back against the latter, though.
Although fairly evenly matched, the Aussies are on offer 1X2 @ 3.09 compared to Egypt 1X2 @ 2.53. Similarly, with Asian Handicap, the Pharaohs have the edge, priced -0.50 @ 2.53 in contrast to Australia 0.00 @ 2.26. The draw after 90 minutes is an attractive bet @ 2.91.
For goals, how about a safe bet of Over 2.00 @ 2.12 or Total Goal 0-1 @ 2.40? I have looked at those more than 2-3 @ 1.92 and 4-6 @ 4.79. But in the end, I just think Egypt will have a bit more about them.
However, if Australia can repeat their performance against Turkey, I can see them edging it.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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