Mohamed Salah World Cup injury concern as Egypt progress to last 32 after Iran draw - 'We hope for the best'

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Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has revealed that the reason Mohamed Salah came off in the 1-1 draw with Iran, which ensured their progress to the World Cup's last 32, was due to an apparent hamstring injury.

We have time' - Egypt boss Hassan gives Salah injury update

Video credit: SNTV

Mahmoud Saber fired Egypt in front early on in Seattle after some questionable goalkeeping from Alireza Beiranvand.

Mehdi Taremi then saw a tame penalty saved by Egypt's Mostafa Shoubir before Ramin Rezaeian drew Iran level in the 14th minute.

Iran felt they should have won the game at the death as Shoja Khalilzadeh tucked into an empty net following a goalmouth scramble.

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Khalilzadeh's effort was controversially ruled out by VAR, which means they now need results elsewhere to go in their favour if they are to progress as one of the best placed third-placed teams.

However, one of the main talking points from the Group G stalemate was Salah's withdrawal shortly before the hour mark.

The 34-year-old was replaced by Zizo in a decision that raised eyebrows at the time.

Salah celebrates in streets of Vancouver after Egypt's historic win against New Zealand

Video credit: TNT Sports

Salah was later spotted with ice strapped to his left hamstring, heightening fears that his World Cup was over.

And after the World Cup clash, Hassan admitted the former Liverpool man had requested to come off.

"Salah asked to be replaced, but we still don’t know the diagnosis," the Egypt boss said in quotes carried by Al-Ahram following the game.

"Since he felt something, it means there is something. He will undergo scans and we hope for the best."

Hassan also revealed what Salah told him about the injury.

He added: "I talked to Salah, and he said he’s going to be okay, and it’s not a big injury. 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 okay.”

Egypt's absentee issues

Egypt endured an injury-hit encounter with Iran after defender Mohamed Abdelmonem was stretchered off in the first half.

The severity of Hamdy Fathy and Hossam Abdelmaguid's respective knocks are still yet to be determined.

In addition, Mohanad Lasheen will sit out Egypt's next game, having collected his second yellow card of the World Cup in second-half stoppage time.

To compound matters, Egypt played the final 10 minutes with 10 men after Ahmed Fatouh sustained an injury after the Pharaohs had used all five substitutions.

And Hassen was full of praise for his players following a hard-fought draw, stating: "I congratulate all Egyptian people. We dominated possession throughout the game, but we had to retreat after the injury of Fatouh, as we were playing with 10 players only.

"We qualified for the next round for the first time, and we missed the top of group only on goal difference."

Hassen, though, has full faith in his squad to get the job done in their looming last 32 clash.

"We came here with 26 players, and even if several players are missing, we have fighters on the pitch, and I have full confidence in them," the 59-year-old added.

Egypt will now play Australia in the next round of the tournament, having progressed to the knockout stage as group runners' up following Belgium's resounding 5-1 win over New Zealand in the other Group G game.

The African powerhouse, though, face an anxious wait to determine whether Salah will be fit to feature in Friday's meeting with the Socceroos.

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