Football
Salah hails Egypt’s historic World Cup breakthrough after Panenka penalty
Mohamed Salah said he made a last-minute decision to chip his penalty in Egypt’s dramatic shootout victory over Australia that sent the Pharaohs into the World Cup Round of 16 for the first time.
The Egypt captain confidently converted a Panenka in the penalty shootout as his side won 4-2 after the match ended 1-1 following extra time in Texas.
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Despite playing through a hamstring injury, Salah completed the full 120 minutes before stepping up to score under immense pressure.
“If somebody was going to do it, it would be me. I am more experienced than others and I wanted to give them confidence,” Salah stated.
“I decided last minute, I had to do it.”
The 34-year-old described the qualification as a historic moment for Egyptian football, urging his teammates to savour the achievement after securing the country’s first-ever World Cup knockout victory.
Egypt will now face either defending champions Argentina or surprise package Cape Verde for a place in the quarter-finals.