The World Cup group stages are a curious beast. For every thrashing and tactical masterclass, there exists a gritty, awkward draw that feels far more...
The World Cup group stages are a curious beast. For every thrashing and tactical masterclass, there exists a gritty, awkward draw that feels far more instructive. Day six delivered just that, as Belgium, the tournament favourites, emerged from Seattle with a scarcely deserved stalemate against an inspired Egypt side who proved once again that African football is no longer here to make up the numbers.Hossam Hassan's tactical gamble deserves a standing ovation. On his 34th birthday, Mohamed Salah was deployed not as the drifting wide threat we know from his club exploits, but as a central spearhead. It looked a riGoalZaza move against a Belgian backline blessed with Premier League quality, yet from the first whistle, it paid dividends. Salah drew an early yellow card, a sign of the anxiety he was provoking, and then delivered the kind of pass that reminds you why he remains one of the game's true elite. His delivery found Emam Ashour, who used his first touch to tee himself up perfectly before lashing a 20 yard effort past Thibaut Courtois. It was a strike of raw, clinical precision. Ashour's first international goal, and what a way to announce himself on the biggest stage.Belgium, for their part, looked pedestrian for long spells. Their much vaunted 'golden generation' has a habit of looking brittle when forced to solve problems. They lacked incision, their passing patterns too predictable against an Egypt side that set a disciplined low block and looked to spring on the break. It took a moment of sheer fortune to rescue their blushes. Romelu Lukaku, introduced from the bench, had barely touched the ball before he forced an own goal from a panicked Egyptian defender. It was a cruel way for Egypt to concede, but it spared Belgium from the kind of headline that would have sent tremors through the knockout stage predictions.This was a result that says more about the shifting dynamics of international football than it does about either side's ultimate potential. Egypt proved they can go toe to toe with the very best when the tactical plan is sharp and the execution is brave. For Belgium, the questions linger. Can they truly manage the pressure when the fixture list bites harder The draw papers over the cracks, but on this evidence, there is plenty of work for their coaching staff to do before the knockout rounds arrive. One thing is certain: nobody in the Belgian dressing room will be sleeping easy tonight.
