Keeping his composure in a high-pressure moment, Mohamed Salah said he made the split-second decision to chip his penalty, guiding Egypt into the World Cup last 16 on Friday.
After the game ended 1-1 in Texas, the former Liverpool player and Egypt captain came up third in the shootout for his nation and scored a “Panenka” as they defeated Australia 4-2 on penalties. Egypt, who won their first World Cup knockout match. will next take on Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Despite having a hamstring strain, the 34-year-old Salah played the entire 120 minutes and came through for his country when they needed him.
“If somebody was going to do it, it would be me. I am more experienced than others and I wanted to give them confidence. I decided last minute, I had to do it,” AFP quoted an emotional Salah as saying.
After the great underachievers of African football finally made their mark on the largest platform, Salah declared “history” for Egypt and urged his teammates to enjoy it.
Salah could well be at his last World Cup, and said: “I always try to enjoy every moment because it does not come back.
“So I always tell the boys, ‘just enjoy the moment’, and probably we’ll see tonight in a few minutes how we’re going to celebrate outside the bus now.
“But we can’t take it for granted because Egypt — I don’t know how many times I’ve said the word — but it’s never before we qualified in a group stage and never qualified for the next round, so it’s just a moment to enjoy.”
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan had warned on Thursday that he was “not sure” if the talisman would be fit to start. However, Hassan included him in an attacking starting lineup that also featured Omar Marmoush of Manchester City.
Salah averages a goal every other game for his nation and has one goal and two assists thus far in the North American competition, aside from his penalty in the shootout.
