How Egypt got the best out of Mohamed Salah when Liverpool could not

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·16 juin 2026

How Egypt got the best out of Mohamed Salah when Liverpool could not

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. For Mohamed Salah, that certainly appears to be the case.

The ‘Egyptian King’ may have just endured his most difficult season at Liverpool, but a tactical tweak ensured he was back to his best for his country as the Pharaohs drew 1-1 with Group G favorites Belgium in their World Cup 2026 opener.

Vidéos OneFootball

Liverpool fans spent much of the past year tearing their hair out over Salah’s perceived lack of defensive effort on the right flank. In previous seasons, this was an acceptable trade-off as he notched record-breaking numbers of goals and assists.

But this term, a return of just seven goals and seven assists in 27 Premier League games meant pundits began to pore over deficiencies that were once overlooked—most notably a reluctance to track back that left his unfortunate full-back exposed time and again.

Hassan’s tactical masterstroke

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan implemented a beautifully simple solution against Belgium: he eliminated Salah’s defensive responsibilities entirely.

To do this, Hassan moved Salah off the wing and into the No.10 spot, urging him to spend his energy and creative power in the pocket behind striker Omar Marmoush. It was a move that worked wonders at Seattle’s Lumen Field, as the Pharaohs took the game to Belgium in a dominant first half.

It was Salah who orchestrated the opening goal after just 19 minutes. Finding Emam Ashour on the edge of the box, the captain watched as the Al Ahly midfielder took one touch and curled an exquisite shot beyond Thibaut Courtois’ despairing dive.

The ultimate provider

Throughout the match, Salah seemed to embrace the role of provider over goalscorer. He threaded several sublime through-balls for Marmoush, who really should have converted at least one of two gilt-edged chances.

On 59 minutes, Salah sent his strike partner racing clear, only for a last-gasp shoulder charge from recovering defender Nathan Ngoy, proving enough to force Marmoush to shoot wide. Five minutes later, Salah flicked a long pass over the defense on the turn with a sublime piece of skill, but this time Marmoush saw his goal-bound effort deflected wide.

Despite the missed chances, it looks like a partnership that will bear fruit as the tournament progresses.

Solving the defensive puzzle

Crucially, Salah’s shift inside also added defensive solidity to Egypt’s low block. His replacement on the right wing, Mostafa Ziko, worked tirelessly to double up with full-back Mohamed Hany, successfully nullifying the considerable threat of Jérémy Doku.

The pair did their job so effectively that Doku eventually switched wings with Leandro Trossard to see if he could get any joy on the left before being moved into a central role as the spearhead of the attack.

Doku was shunted back to the right to make room when Belgium’s all-time leading goalscorer Romelu Lukaku came on after 66 minutes.

Within twenty-two seconds, the hulking striker appeared to have bundled home an equalizer with his first touch, though replays later showed the final touch came off the otherwise impressive Hany for an own goal.

Chasing a historic legacy

It was a surprise to see both Salah and Ziko substituted in the 75th minute, and Egypt looked significantly less settled without them.

The change was likely a precaution to protect Salah’s hamstring; a tear had kept him out of Liverpool’s Premier League run-in, and he remained coy about his fitness during the pre-match press conferences in the USA.

Egypt will expect to win their next two group games against New Zealand and Iran. If Salah’s tactical “shunt” into the middle remains this effective, they almost certainly will.

Despite qualifying for three previous World Cups—1934, 1990 and 2018—The Pharaohs have never actually won a match at the finals. Finally breaking that duck in North America would likely propel them into the knockout stages, securing the exact kind of legacy Salah is desperate to leave behind.