Awer Mabil ends World Cup with Australia after round-of-32 exit to Egypt | OneFootball

Awer Mabil ended his World Cup with Australia on mixed terms, featuring in their round-of-32 defeat to Egypt after missing CD Castellón’s promotion play-off through international duty.

According to Superdeporte, Egypt now await their last-16 opponent, to be decided later by Argentina against Cape Verde. Mabil shared the squad with Mathew Ryan, who was introduced only for the penalty shootout.

This was Mabil’s second World Cup, after 2022 when he played 22 minutes across two games. His influence here was limited, completing 56% of his passes, 5 of 9, as Australia ceded the initiative. He had a free-kick from wide in extra time that struck the wall.

He still stepped up in the shootout and scored, making it 2-2 with his attempt.

The 30-year-old, born in Kakuma, Kenya, has 38 caps and 10 goals but has scarcely been trusted by Tony Popovic at this tournament.

Now in his second spell in Spanish football after a brief stay at Cádiz, Mabil has been peripheral to Australia’s plans. Popovic has favoured a 3-4-3 with advanced wing-backs, leaving little scope for an out-and-out winger.

Source: Superdeporte