El Hadary appeared at a news conference yesterday with coach Hector Cuper at the Volgograd Arena yesterday, suggesting he could play some part in Monday’s Group A game.
“Obviously I will be very happy if I participate in the match tomorrow,” the 45-year-old keeper said. “I don’t know (whether I will play), this is not certain. Obviously every player wants to set a record. It would not only be my achievement but also an achievement for Egypt.”
El Hadary, who is at his his first World Cup for the Pharaohs, will be 45 years and 161 days old on Monday. He would surpass the record of Colombian keeper Faryd Mondragon, who was 43 years and 3 days in his final appearance at the 2014 World Cup. Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia are now playing for pride after losing their two opening games.
The Saudis want to avoid finishing in last place in a group at the World Cup for the fourth time, while the Pharaohs are seeking a first World Cup win at their third tournament appearance. Saudi coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said he would field “the best team possible” while Egypt’s Cuper said he would be making “minor changes” and that victory would be “an important milestone” for the country’s football.
“It is an important match because we want to end this participation in the World Cup on a high note and with a good result,” he said.
Egypt fans will be hoping the team’s swansong in Russia will be a stage for Mohamed Salah to shine after the Liverpool striker scored from the penalty spot in the 3-1 defeat to Russia. He missed the side’s opening games against Uruguay while still recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered against Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
“There is no doubt that Mohamed Salah has a huge importance in this team. Being fully up to speed in the first match would have been very important,” Cuper said. “I don’t want to focus on a single player. All the players are important, but he is a player who is a natural born scorer who can make a difference in the final third.”
Pizzi said Salah would not be specifically marked but measures would be taken to try to contain him. “Of course, we will take cautionary measures, not specifically tailored to him, but in general terms in being aware of his qualities and to try to contain them and stave off any attacking play he might develop,” he said.
Argentinian coach Cuper meanwhile would not be drawn on whether it would be his final match in charge of Egypt. “As to whether this is the last match, I have never excluded anything in life,” he said. Pizzi would like to continue his work in the Saudi team after seeing a great deal of progress since taking over in November.
The 5-0 opening game defeat against Russia was followed by a much improved performance in losing 1-0 to Uruguay. “Now we have a great opportunity to continue on that line and obtain the objective we had at the beginning, which was to win a match,” he said.
