Egypt defender scores calamitous own goal against Russian Federation


Egypt defender scores calamitous own goal against Russian Federation

Their scoreline of 5-0 showed the intent the team has with them and hosts can be hopeful.

Russia's forward Artem Dzyuba and Russia's forward Artem Dzyuba celebrate the opening goal during the Russian Federation 2018 World Cup Group A football match between Russian Federation and Egypt at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 19, 2018.

So - good, lucky or both?

They even had to call 38-year-old centre-back Sergei Ignashevich out of worldwide retirement following several injuries to their back line.

However, ten minutes into the match, Russian Federation regained the possession of the ball and launched a series of strikes on the Egyptian net, which either went wide or were saved by goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy. He made no mistakes there and got his third goal in two games.


They were the butt of jokes, they seemed so hopeless and hapless.

Egypt's heroic defensive effort against Uruguay was praised for all the right reasons, but their match against Russian Federation showed, that the side significantly lacks quality in the middle of the park.

Everything was working in their favour but you have to make use of that. They started off against Saudi Arabia, who are - at 67th - the next lowest ranked team in the tournament.

Mohamed Elneny completed 44 passes versus Uruguay in their first game, the most by an Egyptian player at the World Cup.

Russia's 5-0 win against Saudi Arabia was the biggest victory by a host nation in an opening game since Italy beat the United States of America 7-1 in 1934. They carried that energy into tonight's game and were dominant throughout. Of their eight goals, only two have been scored by players who started the first game.

Artem Dzyuba was a tactical switch and also scored in the opening game.

Egypt right-back Ahmed Fathi, who captained the side in the last game, has shaken off a minor muscle problem.

Aside from Cheryshev, almost all of the Russian national team's players come from the local club level, including goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, 32, who has played in 104 national team games.

While defender Yuri Zhirkov still has plenty of pace, he will find it hard to cope with the lightning-quick Salah, who cut a swathe of destruction through European defences for Liverpool last season while coming in from the right wing on to his lethal left foot.

Mohamed El Shenawy needlessly opted to punch instead of catch Aleksandr Golovin's cross and Roman Zobnin's follow-up shot from the edge of the area was sailing wide until Fathi put out a leg and steered the ball across his own goalkeeper and into the goal.



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