Mohamed Salah’s hopes of playing in his first World Cup knockout match are in the balance after the Egypt captain suffered a knee injury during his side’s 1-1 draw with Iran.
Salah was surprisingly taken off on 57 minutes and the former Liverpool star was seen with ice wrapped around his leg as he watched on from the bench.
Salah scored his 68th international goal in Egypt's first World Cup win, a 3-1 victory against New Zealand. The 34-year-old has assisted two other goals at the tournament.
But his hopes of playing in Egypt’s last-32 clash against Australia next Friday are in doubt as coach Hossam Hassan said Salah will undergo assessment.
While the Egypt coach said Salah reported that he was “OK”, it does not bode well for the Pharaohs’ chances after the captain was removed from play so early in the second half.
“I talked to Salah and he said he’s going to be OK and it’s not a big injury,” Hassan said. “We still have time to talk to the medical staff. I think he will be back, and when I spoke to Salah he assured me he’s going to be OK.”
Egypt advanced as Group G runners-up, following Belgium’s 5-1 win over New Zealand, but only after surviving a major scare in stoppage time, with a potential Iran winner ruled out due to offside.
Iran could still advance to the knockout round for the first time but their fate is no longer in their hands.
Belgium are due to face a third-placed group team in Seattle on Wednesday, while New Zealand will head home without a World Cup win.
