Salah a doubt as Socceroos face Egypt in World Cup knockout

Egypt on Friday, and Salah might not make it

Your Socceroos face Egypt in the World Cup Round of 32 on Friday night (2). Mohamed Salah is a doubt with a hamstring injury, a huge shift in what this knockout tie looks like.

Tony Popovic has injuries of his own to manage. Mathew Leckie, Jacob Italiano, Harry Souttar, and Patrick Beach are all carrying issues ahead of the match (2).

The Paraguay draw was ugly, but it worked

Australia 0–0 Paraguay in the group stage. The match was called one of the worst of the tournament, but Ajdin Hrustic did not care: "We got our job done and that's what counts" (3).

Your team secured knockout qualification with that point.

Group stage path: two results that defined it

Popovic's side opened with a 2–0 win over Turkey on June 14th, then followed the Paraguay stalemate to go through (2)(3). A 1–0 friendly loss to Mexico on May 31st raised questions about the attack, but the group stage delivered when it mattered (2).

Egypt drew 1–1 with Belgium on June 15th in their own opener under Hossam Hassan (2).

Penalties might decide this

If Friday goes the distance, penalty shootouts are part of Australian football's DNA. John Aloisi's spot-kick against Uruguay in 2005 sent the Socceroos to their first World Cup in 32 years. Cortnee Vine did the same against France in the 2023 Women's World Cup quarterfinal (1).

The difference this time? Egypt's goalkeeper handles pressure differently to outfield players, a factor that could shape how both sides prepare (1).

Fan-reaktioner

Socceroos fans online are split between nerves about the injuries and quiet optimism that Salah's absence opens a real path. The Paraguay performance still stings for some, but Friday is all that matters now. Join the discussion on r/Aleague.