Salah and Egypt face Messi's Argentina in historic last 16

Egypt vs Argentina tonight, winner gets Spain or Cape Verde

This is it. Egypt's biggest World Cup moment arrives Tuesday at Atlanta Stadium, a Round of 16 clash against defending champions Argentina (7) (8). Your team has never been here before, first time out of the group, and the reward is Lionel Messi.

Mohamed Salah scored the decisive penalty to beat Australia in the previous round and spoke about it afterwards: "I decided last minute. I am more experienced than others and I wanted to give them confidence" (2). Salah had missed in Egypt's last two shootouts, including the World Cup qualifying playoff against Senegal four years ago.

The winner faces either Spain or Cape Verde in the quarterfinals (2).

Salah hamstring, but he's going

The injury cloud from the Iran draw has not fully lifted. Salah was substituted with a hamstring issue in that 1–1 result. Hossam Hassan stated Salah assured him he is "going to be okay," but the official update still lists him as a doubt (background). All eyes on the team sheet.

Scaloni makes three changes, Paredes on alert

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is shaking his lineup after the scare against Cape Verde, with three changes expected (9) (10). Cape Verde pushed them to the edge, and Leandro Paredes gave an honest assessment of what that means for Egypt.

"The lesson is that there will not be any easy game, as will happen with Egypt," Paredes said. "After our late goal against Cape Verde, what did the coach tell us? Scaloni did not say 'they don't play any more', but to give their best and keep trying, pressing. That we leave everything until the end" (6).

They are not taking your team lightly.

Scaloni already talking about a Spain final

If you needed bulletin-board material, here it is. Scaloni told Marca before the Egypt match: "Firmo una final Argentina-España", I would sign for an Argentina-Spain final (12). He is already looking two rounds ahead.

Marmoush under the Manchester City spotlight

With Salah nursing that hamstring, Omar Marmoush carries extra weight. Manchester City are watching this tie closely as a sharp test of his value and role post-World Cup (background). Big stage, big audience.

Emam Ashour, the history-maker

Some context on a name you will see tonight. Emam Ashour scored Egypt's first World Cup qualifying goal in 92 years, a moment that came after Hossam Hassan had publicly challenged him. The Spanish press described it simply: "Se veía el hambre en sus ojos", you could see the hunger in his eyes (1).

Fan-reaktioner

Hossam Hassan's pre-match comments on Palestine have resonated widely, with fans sharing his statement that anyone who does not feel for the Palestinian people "isn't human" regardless of origin or background. Read the full discussion here. Meanwhile, a video of Salah, Marmoush, and the Egypt squad walking the streets of Atlanta has fans soaking in the calm before the storm, link here.