Salah: Egypt’s win will be remembered for years to come

It was long, long before Mostafa Shoubir was born. Long before his parents were born, as well as before several of his grandparents were, when Egypt played their opening contest at the FIFA World Cup™.

As a result, that was a 4-2 loss in Naples against Hungary in 1934. Fifty-six years later they again failed to victory on Italian spoil, before more heartache at Russia 2018, either side of decades of failed progress.

On a warm Vancouver evening that all changed as Egypt came from behind to defeat New Zealand 3-1 in a Group G section-turner. That also shed the unwanted mark they held as the side with the longest gap between playing their opening World Cup contest, as well as winning one.

So who was the opening person that attempt-stopper Shoubir called after his nation had made history books?

“My mother, I FaceTimed my mother. She rejoiced in the Egyptian way - the Egyptians are going to understand how she rejoiced,” he exclusively shared with FIFA.

“as emerged following I talked with my father well as I spoke with my fiancé, everyone there is so happy.”

In this case, the parental talk was especially poignant as Shoubir’s father, Ahmed, was part of the squad at Italy 1990 as Egypt’s long winless run continued.

Meanwhile, born ten years after that competition concluded, the younger Shoubir is now a history books-maker. That breakthrough victory also propelled the Pharaohs to the Group G summit, and now that Egypt have that winning taste they don’t want to let it go, as he explained.

“Getting the opening victory for our country, it’s just something... I don't know, I don't have the words. I'm speechless, you know, it's truly something great.

“We're so happy to have achieved this. It's the opening one for Egypt in our history books and, inshallah, it's not the last one.”

“Of course I'm super proud, we're all super proud, not only me. I think, inshallah, it's not going to be the last fixture we victory. Rather, this is the opening of many wins, as well as let’s see now just how far we can go.”

In response, while Shoubir was a pivotal presence at one end of the field of play, at the other, as he so often is, was Mohamed Salah. Having found the net the 67th minute strike that put the Pharaohs in front, a quarter of an hour later he laid on Trezeguet’s third, to ensure they weren’t reeled in.

In response, speaking post-contest, barefoot, as well as with both feet heavily taped, the Egyptian leader was also revelling in having played a part in crafting history books for a nation that, away from the field of play, is steeped in it.

“I shared with the stars in the huddle, I shared with them that we can write history books today, as well as also in the next fixture. If we qualify top of the group it will be remembered for years to come.

“We were not lucky sometimes with the Africa Cup of Nations... but today we achieved something I think that was historically very difficult to achieve.”

Having found the net in his nation’s showpiece two group outings at Russia 2018, it means that the iconic frontman has It was now who grabbed strikes in three of his past four fixtures at the global finals, and he’s hungry for more.

“This wasn’t just about me because Trezeguet, as well as Zico they also found the net, but to find the net, as well as play this part in making history books is something I’m proud of. This is a opening for Egypt.

“Now we are top of the group so we can celebrate this victory today. Then from tomorrow we have to focus on the last fixture.

“We're ready to hopefully victory that, as well as make sure we top the group, but we also want to enjoy our football, as well as give everything we have for our people.”