Egypt reached the World Cup knockout stage with a 1-1 draw against Iran in Seattle, but Mohamed Salah injury news overshadowed this performance. Mohamed Salah limped out of the match just before the hour, and is in doubt for Friday's round-of-32 meeting with Australia.
Salah had left his mark before he left the field. His deflected shot in the fifth minute dropped kindly for Mahmoud Saber, who poked Egypt ahead through the goalkeeper's legs. Iran hit back soon after through Ramin Rezaeian, and the game stayed taut to the last. In the dying moments of the match Shoja Khalilzadeh thought he had snatched it for Iran, only for the offside flag to cut the celebration short.
By then Salah was long gone. He signalled to the bench in the 57th minute, was replaced by Mostafa Zico, and sat with ice strapped to the back of his leg.
Hossam Hassan explained why he risked taking his star off the pitch. "He asked to come off. If a player asks to be substituted, it means he felt something."
What was first described around the camp as a knee problem turned out to be a strain in the hamstring. "God willing, the injury doesn't seem serious. He assured me it would be fine," explained Egypt's coach.
Egypt confirmed the diagnosis and said Salah has already begun the recovery process. The timing is unkind. This is the same muscle that troubled him in late April, a problem that sidelined him for roughly three weeks before he recovered. With the Australia tie only days away, the medical staff are working against the clock.
"I talked to Salah and he said he's going to be OK, and it's not a big injury," Hassan said. "We still have time to talk to the medical staff. I think he will be back, and when I spoke to Salah he assured me he's going to be OK."
It leaves Egypt's first-ever knockout appearance hanging on a single fitness call. The Liverpool player is Egypt's all-time leading scorer and his absence would surely be felt in every line.
The draw with Iran was enough to carry Egypt through as Group G runners-up, behind Belgium, with Iran going out. That alone is history for a side reaching the last 32 for the first time. The celebration, though, is on hold while one question hangs over the camp: can their captain make it back in time?
Salah will be assessed again before Egypt travels to Dallas. They meet Australia on Friday, 3 July. Whether the number 10 is on the team sheet may decide how much further this story runs.
