Egypt to Assess Salah After He Asked to Be Substituted, Says Coach

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Egypt v Iran - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US - June 26, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah takes a corner kick. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Egypt v Iran - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US - June 26, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah takes a corner kick. (Reuters)
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Egypt to Assess Salah After He Asked to Be Substituted, Says Coach

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Egypt v Iran - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US - June 26, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah takes a corner kick. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Egypt v Iran - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US - June 26, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah takes a corner kick. (Reuters)

Egypt coach Hossam ‌Hassan said Mohamed Salah would be assessed after the captain asked to be substituted during Friday's 1-1 World Cup draw with Iran, leaving his fitness uncertain ahead of the knockout phase

Salah appeared visibly frustrated as he was replaced 12 minutes into the second half. Hassan said it was too early to determine the extent of the issue though it did not appear to be serious.

"He ‌asked to ‌come off. If a player asks ‌to ⁠be substituted, it ⁠means he felt something," Hassan told beIN Sports.

"We'll make sure what the problem is. We'll assess him."

Hassan said left back Ahmed Fatouh would also be evaluated after suffering an injury, while expressing hope that midfielder Hamdi Fathi would recover in ⁠time for Egypt's round of 32 ‌game against Australia on ‌Friday after missing the Iran match.

Despite the fitness concerns, ‌Hassan was confident in the depth of his ‌squad after Egypt secured second spot in Group G with five points, behind leaders Belgium on goal difference.

"I have warriors. I have Egyptian players who are ‌worthy of the trust placed in them," he said.

"I don't worry about missing ⁠players. I ⁠have complete confidence in everyone in this squad. If I worried every time we had an injury, then I wouldn't be fit to coach the Egypt national team."

Hassan hailed Egypt's progress to the knockout stage as a proud achievement for the country, the Arab world and Africa, saying his side would now focus on preparing for the next round.

"We'll prepare ourselves, work hard and do everything we can for what's coming next," he said.



Jordan Coach Sellami in Awe of Argentina Despite Possible Messi Absence

 Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami responds to a question during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of his team's World Cup Group J match against Argentina in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami responds to a question during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of his team's World Cup Group J match against Argentina in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
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Jordan Coach Sellami in Awe of Argentina Despite Possible Messi Absence

 Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami responds to a question during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of his team's World Cup Group J match against Argentina in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami responds to a question during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of his team's World Cup Group J match against Argentina in Arlington, Texas. (AP)

Jordan coach Jamal Sellami is relishing the prospect of closing out his side's debut appearance at the World Cup against defending champions Argentina on Saturday, even if Lionel Messi is likely to start the game at Dallas Stadium on the bench.

The Jordanians lost both of their opening Group J games against Austria and Algeria and have no ‌chance of ‌advancing to the knockout rounds ‌despite ⁠having one match ⁠left to play.

"We have no idea what the Argentina coach will do with regards his initial line-up but, whoever the players are, the team is exceptional and every player deserves his place in this team," ⁠Sellami said.

"They all dream of winning ‌the World Cup, ‌so no matter who the player is he will ‌be carrying the dreams of the ‌Argentina team."

"Of course, if Messi is playing he's one of the best players in the world and if not, we will still be playing ‌against a very strong and solid team."

Captain Noor Al-Rawabdeh said ⁠he wanted ⁠to leave the world with a positive impression of Jordanian football and the nation as a whole.

"Being able to be here is a message that we would like to convey about the Jordanian people and about Jordanian culture, to show to the world who we are," he said.

"The Jordanians are people who have dreams and perseverance and we're happy that we have been able to reflect this image."


Senegal’s Quiet Man Sarr Becomes His Nation’s Leading World Cup Scorer

Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal applauds fans after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal applauds fans after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Senegal’s Quiet Man Sarr Becomes His Nation’s Leading World Cup Scorer

Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal applauds fans after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal applauds fans after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)

‌Ismaila Sarr's quiet dedication finally got its loudest moment on Friday, as the striker became Senegal's all-time leading scorer at the World Cup in a 5-0 pounding of Iraq and his teammates could not have been prouder.

Sarr's fourth World Cup goal, scored just before the hour mark, moved him past the late Papa Bouba ‌Diop as ‌his country's record marksman at ‌the ⁠tournament.

Those who share ⁠a dressing room with him say the milestone was richly deserved.

"He really, really deserves it," said midfielder Idrissa Gueye. "Yeah, he puts everything into what he does."

The 28-year-old Sarr had drawn level with Diop four ⁠days earlier with a brace ‌against Norway, which ‌made him the first Senegalese player to score ‌at two World Cups.

Defender Moussa Niakhate ‌offered a telling portrait of a man who lets his football do the talking.

"He's an inspiration," said Niakhate. "He's like someone who is really ‌shy, really quiet, but the most important thing is what you ⁠do ⁠on the pitch, and on the pitch he is not shy. He just shows what he can do, always gives his best for the country."

Goalkeeper Mory Diaw, deputizing for the injured Edouard Mendy, echoed the sentiment.

"He deserves it because he's a very good player," said Diaw. "Every day, he works a lot, so he deserves this goal, and I hope for more for him."


Iraq Should Be Proud of World Cup Display Despite Early Exit, Says Coach

Iraq's head coach Graham Arnold looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match Senegal against Iraq, in Toronto, Canada, 26 June 2026. (EPA)
Iraq's head coach Graham Arnold looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match Senegal against Iraq, in Toronto, Canada, 26 June 2026. (EPA)
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Iraq Should Be Proud of World Cup Display Despite Early Exit, Says Coach

Iraq's head coach Graham Arnold looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match Senegal against Iraq, in Toronto, Canada, 26 June 2026. (EPA)
Iraq's head coach Graham Arnold looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match Senegal against Iraq, in Toronto, Canada, 26 June 2026. (EPA)

Iraq coach Graham Arnold said the country should be proud of how its team played at the World Cup following their elimination from the tournament after a 5-0 loss to Senegal on Friday.

Arnold ‌said his ‌side performed well ‌against ⁠high-profile players from ⁠France, Norway and Senegal who they usually only see on television, saying, "Everyone in Iraq should be proud of the fact that ⁠we made it ‌here and ‌we performed very well in ‌two out of the ‌three games."

Iraq's red card in the 13th minute led to the team's downfall against ‌Senegal, the coach said.

Arnold noted that many ⁠of ⁠the 12 goals they conceded at the tournament came from individual mistakes.

The coach also said that leagues in the Middle East still have a lot of work to do in order to improve player development.