‘Maybe they wished to maintain the world champions within the competitors,’ Hassan stated after his crew was knocked out.
Revealed On 7 Jul 2026
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan claims his facet was “cheated” out of a spot within the World Cup quarterfinals after Argentina staged a surprising late comeback from 2-0 all the way down to win 3-2 in a gripping last-16 match in Atlanta.
The Pharaohs began as underdogs however took the lead in opposition to the world champions inside quarter-hour, which was doubled within the second half earlier than Argentina walked away with the win on Tuesday.
“I don’t need to put it properly and speak about arduous luck. We’ve been cheated unfairly in the present day; now we have suffered injustice,” Hassan stated in an explosive post-match information convention.
Egypt had a Mostafa Zico aim dominated out after they had been main 1-0 because the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened to identify a foul on Lisandro Martinez a lot earlier within the transfer.
Zico did then put Egypt getting ready to a spot within the final eight for the primary time by doubling their lead.
Nevertheless, the defending champions hit again as Cristian Romero diminished the arrears earlier than Lionel Messi, who had a first-half penalty saved, smashed within the equaliser together with his eighth aim of the event.
The controversy didn’t finish there, although, as within the buildup to Argentina’s winner scored by Enzo Fernandez, Egypt imagine they need to have as a substitute been awarded a penalty for a pull by Alexis Mac Allister on Hamdy Fathy.
“We haven’t seen respect or honest play. There has not been respect or honest play,” Hassan stated.
“A penalty was dominated out, was not even checked by VAR. A second aim was remarkably disallowed. There has not even been a VAR test when now we have all seen the picture of the [shirt] being pulled again.”
Hassan stated he wouldn’t watch any extra matches of the event, such was the injustice he felt.
“I’m not going to proceed following the matches of this World Cup,” he added.
“That is my very own method of talking up.”
‘They wished Messi to remain’
After Yasser Ibrahim’s header put Egypt in entrance, Argentina had been awarded a penalty for a visit on Nicolas Tagliafico.
Messi’s issues with World Cup penalties continued as his effort was saved by Mostafa Shobeir.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has now failed to attain 4 of his eight non-shootout spot-kicks on the World Cup, together with two misses at this event.
Hassan speculated that the officers had been put beneath stress to maintain one of many largest names within the competitors.
“Maybe they wished to maintain the world champions within the competitors. Maybe they wished Messi to remain within the operating,” he instructed BeIN Sports activities.
“In soccer, there are typically exterior components that transcend the technical elements. The world champions acquired assist at each degree.”
Egypt had been surprisingly attacking early on within the sport, a departure from Hassan’s traditional tactic of enjoying with a decent defence and searching for counterattack alternatives.
It helped them take an early lead, but it surely was the heroics of goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir that ensured they remained in entrance by half-time.
“I’m very, very happy with the trouble they put in. Most of our gamers come from the Egyptian home league, whereas many gamers in different nationwide groups are primarily based in Europe and stay in that skilled surroundings,” Hassan added.
“But with predominantly native gamers – in addition to Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush – we had been in a position to compete with anybody.”
Hassan additionally complained concerning the scheduling of the match for a midday kick-off (16:00 GMT), simply 4 days after each side had gained their spherical of 32 matches.
“Whoever schedules these matches has by no means performed soccer. You by no means schedule a sport for 12pm. At midday you go for a stroll or to eat brunch; you don’t go to play soccer.
“When are the gamers speculated to eat? At 7:30am?
“There have been a whole lot of issues to be questioned on and off the pitch.”
