Egypt national team player Ahmed Fattouh revealed the behind-the-scenes details of his injury against Iran, which kept him out of the last two matches of the World Cup.
Ahmed Fattouh
Club: Zamalek
The Egyptian national team reached the round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup for the first time in its history.
Fattouh said via MBC Egypt channel: "We did not feel the achievement we accomplished during our stay in America, but we felt it after returning to Egypt. The Egyptian people are a beautiful people and I am still happy until now".
He continued, "I heard a 'crack' during the last quarter of an hour of the match against Iran, and I knew I had suffered a tear. I told the doctor that I would continue despite his refusal so that the team would not play with a numerical disadvantage. I was feeling severe pain that worsened because I completed the match, but I am fine now and in two days I will be fully recovered".
He added, "If I had participated against Messi? I do not think of any pre-planned scenario. I would have played normally, and playing against a young or old player makes no difference to me. I do not fear any player, and it would have been a match like any other".
He continued, "We were definitely wronged against Argentina, but we also lost focus during the last 10 minutes. They are big players and snatched the match after we focused on the referee".
He went on, "If I had participated in the match against Argentina? Karim Hafez is a big player and had a very good match".
He added, "We were defending against Argentina, and Hossam Hassan set a plan based on the area from which we would defend being our offensive strength point, and it actually succeeded. We were capable of winning were it not for the refereeing errors".
He added, "I do not know what happened in the last minutes of the match. Outside, I was celebrating with Mohamed Abdel Monem, but we lost suddenly and did not even go to extra time".
The Egyptian national team bid farewell to the World Cup after losing to Argentina by three goals to two.
