Written by Omnia Hassan
The 2026 World Cup once again proved that big names alone are not enough to decide knockout matches. After the Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo was eliminated in the round of 16 following Portugal's loss to Spain, the focus quickly shifted to Lionel Messi, who is preparing for a match no less difficult against the Egyptian national team, which aspires to write a new chapter in its World Cup history.
As the Argentine captain seeks to continue his World Cup title defense journey, he realizes that the Pharaohs possess the organization and discipline to overturn all expectations, which requires coach Lionel Scaloni and his players to approach the match with extreme caution.
The Egyptian national team is a competitor that does not acknowledge differences.
The Egyptian national team presented remarkable levels during the tournament, relying on defensive discipline, tactical commitment, and speed in offensive transitions, to confirm that it is not just an honorary guest in the knockout stages.
Hossam Hassan is relying on his players' fighting spirit, in addition to the experience of Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, to create a new surprise against the titleholders.
Breaking Free from Defensive Censorship
The Argentine technical staff knows that Messi will be the primary target of Egyptian marking, especially given the strength of the midfield led by Marwan Attia and Hamdi Fathi.
Therefore, the tango leader needs to constantly move between the lines, exchange positions with his teammates, and avoid staying deep to avoid finding himself isolated as Ronaldo did against the Spanish defense.
Exploiting peripherals instead of direct intrusion
Egypt is expected to tightly pack its defensive midfield, making play through the wings one of Argentina's most important solutions.
The progression of the full-backs, especially Nahuel Molina, will be an important element in stretching the pitch and creating space for Messi and the forwards, rather than engaging in physical duels that could favor the Egyptian defense.
Not giving Mostafa Shobeir a chance to gain confidence
Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir proved during the tournament that he gets better as the minutes of the match go by, so Argentina's players will have to make the most of early opportunities effectively.
Allowing the Egyptian goalkeeper time to get into the rhythm of the match may increase his confidence and make it harder to breach his goal as the game progresses.
Beware of Salah and Marmoush's comebacks.
Argentina is suffering from visible fatigue after their marathon match in the previous round, which could leave spaces behind their defense if the team pushes forward in attack.
And here lies the most dangerous weapon of the Egyptian national team, as Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush possess speed and the ability to exploit counter-attacks, which requires the midfielders, like Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis Mac Allister, to play a significant defensive role to ensure balance.
Seizing opportunities and not underestimating the competition
The most important lesson Argentina can learn from Ronaldo's exit is that knockout matches don't recognize history or names.
Any missed opportunity can give the competitor a big morale boost, and reaching extra time or penalties could increase the Egyptian team's chances of pulling off a surprise, especially given the fighting spirit they have shown throughout the tournament.
Facing all possibilities
Argentina enters the match as the clear favorite on paper, thanks to the experience of its stars and the quality of its players. However, the Egyptian national team proved during its journey in the 2026 World Cup that it is capable of competing with the best and disrupting their plans.
