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Egypt held their nerve to beat Australia 4-2 on penalties and win their first World Cup knockout match.
Egypt took the lead when Emam Ashour headed home, only for an unfortunate Mohamed Hany own goal to eventually send a tense game to extra time.
Australia changed their goalkeeper at the end of extra time, bringing on Mathew Ryan, but he was unable to get a hand to any of Egypt’s penalties as they won the shootout 4-2.
The African nation will next face either debutants Cape Verde or reigning world champions Argentina in Atlanta on July 7.
Today was Australia’s third World Cup knockout game and their third defeat.
They were also eliminated in 2006 by Italy and 2022 by Argentina.
And Australia's only two goals in knockout matches have both been own-goals — Enzo Fernández against Argentina and Mohamed Hany today.
Today’s penalty shootout was the first at a World Cup for both Egypt and Australia, making it the first time two competing nations have met in their first shootouts since Denmark and Croatia's last-16 match in 2018.
Egypt are only the second African nation ever to win a World Cup penalty shootout, after Morocco's two triumphs, in 2022 against Spain and 2026 versus the Netherlands.
Australia were looking to clock up a second successive World Cup where they reached the last 16.
At Qatar 2022, Australia matched their best tournament finish by reaching the round of 16, having last advanced that far in 2006.
For Tony Popovic and his players, it was not to be.
Even before today, Egypt were on a historic run at this World Cup, making it past the group stage for the first time in four attempts.
Qualifiers in 1934, 1990 and 2018, Egypt finally broke through during this tournament by winning their first World Cup match — a 3-1 win over New Zealand — and now they have their first knockout stage win.
If they face Argentina in the next round, they will be big undersogs, but they have already made history.
Speaking in his on-pitch, post-match interview, Mohamed Salah said his risky 'Panenka' penalty was designed to be confidence to his teammates.
💬 “If somebody would do it in the game it would be me.
“I am more experienced than others and I just wanted to give them confidence.
“I decided at the last minute. I don't know if this is my last World Cup or not, but I had to do it.”
Mohamed Salah, speaking in Fox in his post-match interview on the pitch, says he told his Egypt teammates to relish the occcasion.
💬 “It's history. I told the boys before the game, ‘this is it guys, this is the biggest stage you could play in your life, so just enjoy it, don't let the pressure get into you and not enjoy the moment’.
“I'm glad that we managed to win the game.
“Bad luck for them that they lost the penalties, but I'm happy that we've got the history today.”
The lasting image of Australia's 2026 World Cup will be Mo Salah grinning at Mat Ryan after scoring an easy penalty down the middle. Not an easy one to stomach!
If I was a coach, I’d be banning players (especially hefty centre backs) from bludgeoning penalties. Maybe it’s the Trionda ball but we’ve seen a few attempts like Souttar’s disappear into space.
There’s a Gordon Ramsay quote I could use here, but I won’t.
Two centre-backs taking penalties for Australia seemed a very, very strange strategy, particularly when one of them is only 18 years old. Surely the attacking players should have been putting their names forward. You feel for anyone who misses a World Cup spot kick, never mind a teenager who misses one.
It was a mixed game for Mohamed Salah.
But he was still involved in more attacking sequences than almost everyone else.
And, most crucially, he's through to the next round!
Maybe Lucas Herrington really wanted to take a penalty. But, personally, I find it weird that a kid found himself in that situation.
Another legend is through to the last 16.
But will Mohamed Salah face Lionel Messi? Probably.
With all due respect to Cape Verde and their World Cup fairytale, they are big underdogs later today against Messi and Argentina.
The winners play Egypt.
My wife, who turned the game on just for the penalties, just texted me: "Is the Aussie goaltender as bad as he seemed?" Well…
Not sure if Mat Ryan actually touched the ball after coming on, in extra time or the penalty shootout.
No Patrick Beach, no party. That’s all I’m saying.
Australia changed the goalkeeper for the penalty shootout and he didn't make a save.
Four penalties and all four scored for Egypt as they eliminate Australia in Arlington!
They will face Argentina or Cape Verde in the World Cup last 16.
18-year-old defender Herrington is the next man up and he is so unlucky as his spot kick crashes off the crossbar.
Here comes Salah, Egypt's best player and talisman.
He races up to the spot and sits Ryan down with a panenka!
Team Stats
AUS
EGY
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