Arlington (Texas, USA), 4 July (LaPresse/AP) – “I dedicate this victory to the Egyptian people and the Palestinian people, to these kind and honest people.” This was stated by Egypt’s manager Hossam Hassan following their penalty shoot-out victory over Australia in the World Cup round of 16, a win that saw the ‘Pharaohs’ reach the World Cup last 16 for the first time. “Throughout the match and even during the penalty shoot-out, all I did was pray,” he continued. “‘God, please make the Egyptian people happy.’ To be honest, I did the same before the penalties too.” Before the penalties, Hassan went over to the players “to take some of the pressure off,” he concluded. “I said, ‘Don’t think about it, just let it all out, don’t think about anything. Think about your penalty, don’t even think about the goalkeeper. Just think about your shot.’”
2026 World Cup, Egypt manager: “I dedicate this victory to the Palestinian people”
Arlington (Texas, USA), 4 July (LaPresse/AP) – “I dedicate this victory to the Egyptian people and the Palestinian people, to these kind and honest people.” This was stated by Egypt’s manager Hossam Hassan following their penalty shoot-out victory over Australia in the World Cup round of 16, a win that saw the ‘Pharaohs’ reach the World Cup last 16 for the first time. “Throughout the match and even during the penalty shoot-out, all I did was pray,” he continued. “‘God, please make the Egyptian people happy.’ To be honest, I did the same before the penalties too.” Before the penalties, Hassan went over to the players “to take some of the pressure off,” he concluded. “I said, ‘Don’t think about it, just let it all out, don’t think about anything. Think about your penalty, don’t even think about the goalkeeper. Just think about your shot.’”
