Socceroos Set to Face Mo Salah in World Cup 2026 Last-32 Clash The Socceroos are set to face Egypt’s Mo Salah in their World Cup 2026 last-32 match, though uncertainty remains over whether the forward will start the game. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan confirmed Salah is fit to play after recovering from a hamstring injury, but noted the team is unsure of his starting role. Salah was seen training with his teammates on Thursday, and Hassan stated the player is eager to contribute. “We look forward to him playing tomorrow, though we are not sure whether he is going to be in the starting lineup,” Hassan said. Australia’s Tony Popovic emphasized his team’s preparedness for both scenarios—whether Salah starts or comes off the bench. “We have prepared for Salah playing, we’ve seen when he’s not on the pitch the players in those positions where he may play,” Popovic said. “So we’ve prepared for both scenarios and we’ll see tomorrow.” The coach faced repeated questions about countering Egypt’s physicality, particularly the 1.98-meter defender Harry Souttar. Hassan dismissed concerns about height, comparing players like Maradona and Messi. “It’s not about being tall or short, we have physical players … We’re not playing rugby here, we’re playing football,” he said. Egypt entered the match as Group G runners-up, finishing behind Belgium. Salah was substituted in Egypt’s final group game against Iran due to a hamstring strain, a recurrence of an injury he suffered for Liverpool in April. However, he has since recovered and was moving freely during training. In the group stage, Salah scored once and created two chances, bringing his international goal tally to 68—just one behind Hassan as Egypt’s all-time leading scorer. Salah and the Egyptian team were greeted by thousands of fans in Texas upon their arrival on Wednesday.#tony_popovic #hossam_hassan #harry_souttar #mo_salah #soccerroos
Liverpool Latest: Mo Salah Replacement Found as Yan Diomande Makes Transfer Confession Liverpool are reportedly pursuing several high-profile transfer targets ahead of the summer window, with a focus on strengthening their squad ahead of the 2026/27 season. The club’s new manager, Andoni Iraola, is working closely with his backroom staff to secure key additions, particularly in the winger position, as they seek to replace the departing Mohamed Salah. The Reds’ transfer activities are taking place against the backdrop of the World Cup, where several of their players are competing for their national teams. Initially, Liverpool had eight representatives in the tournament, but Wataru Endo withdrew from the Japan squad due to a foot injury, reducing their World Cup presence. This development has shifted the dynamics of potential matchups, with key players like Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and Ryan Gravenberch now representing the Netherlands, while others such as Alisson, Alexander Isak, and Florian Wirtz are competing for their respective nations. A central figure in Liverpool’s transfer plans is Yan Diomande, the 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger. Diomande has emerged as a significant target for the Reds, with reports indicating Liverpool are leading the pursuit for his services. A fee of £87 million is currently under discussion, and Iraola has expressed interest in opening talks with Leipzig. Diomande’s potential move has been fueled by his public admiration for Liverpool, which he previously expressed on social media. In a recent interview with Bild, Diomande clarified that his earlier statements about wanting to play for Liverpool were not his own aspirations but rather a reflection of his father’s lifelong loyalty to the club.#liverpool #rb_leipzig #andoni_iraola #yan_diomande #mo_salah
