Egypt’s entry into the round of 16: Two missed penalties seal Australia’s fate

In the 119th minute, everyone knew in whose hands the advancement of the Australian national team was placed. In the 119th minute, shortly before the end of extra time, goalkeeper Patrick Beach left the pitch – and was replaced by a man also dressed entirely in purple, but who was now wearing pink gloves instead of gray. His name: Mathew Ryan. His mission: Hold what needs to be held. No matter whether with your hand, with your chest, with your knee or with your nose.

So Ryan came on to ensure the Australians progress after a 1-1 draw in regular time on penalties against the highly rated Egyptians. But Ryan, most recently employed at UD Levante in Spain and without a club for a few days, failed to throw enough of his body parts between the ball and the goal line. He couldn’t parry any of the opponent’s shots. And because the Australians Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington missed their attempts, but the four Egyptians who competed all scored, their sporting fate was sealed: Coach Tony Popovic’s team is out, so Australia’s national team is still waiting for its first triumph in a knockout game at a World Cup.

With a little luck there would have been more for the Socceroos, with a little luck and more precision in the finish. Egypt, who went into this duel as favorites, found it difficult to cope with all the physicality that their opponents threw into their close-range duels. An opponent who, despite his footballing limitations, dangerously advanced towards the opponent’s goal several times. The Australians appeared courageous. Brave. And failed when everything boiled down to nerve strength: a few shots from eleven meters away.

The Egyptians had dealt a lot with the nation’s thigh in advance: Mohamed Salah, the best footballer in the country’s history and a larger-than-life figure at home, was ailing. For days there was fear as to whether he would make it in time. Well, he did it: Salah was in the starting line-up, along with fellow attacker Omar Marmoush, the Egyptians’ other top-class player. However, neither achieved anything productive. Marmoush appeared free-standing in the opponent’s penalty area in the second half and his low shot went just wide. And Salah? Strolled across the pitch uninspired for a long time, hit crosses into nowhere, was offside, and only shot dangerously at goal once. Surprisingly, the 34-year-old seemed more relaxed, more agile and more alert towards the end of the game. As if he had divided his forces meticulously. In the penalty shootout he scored with a casual lob. And yet, at least for now, Salah remains with his 69 goals in the national team – one fewer than the current shooting king, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan.

Salah, Marmoush, of course the Australians couldn’t produce names like that, but at least two familiar faces from Germany: Connor Metcalfe and Jackson Irvine from FC St. Pauli, both of whom were allowed to start. And like the rest of the team, they did a decent job. The Australians had the first chance of the game, a long-range shot from Cristian Volpato hit the top of the crossbar. They were good at it. But shortly afterwards the same applied to the ball in their own goal: Karim Hafez spooned the ball into the penalty area, Emam Ashour headed it, 1-0 Egypt (13th).

The Egyptians lack the imagination to break Australia’s defense

From then on, both teams were primarily concerned with neutralizing each other, a goal that they each succeeded in admirably. However, this only helped the entertainment value to a limited extent. The Egyptians lacked the imagination to break the defensive barrier. The Australians tried hard, but they were unable to get the attack going. And so it wasn’t an Australian, but the Egyptian Mohamed Hany, who extended a cross into his own goal to make it 1-1 (55th) – which was Hany’s second own goal at this World Cup.

The game then swung sometimes in one direction and sometimes in the other, but always at a manageable pace. Towards the end of regular time, the Australians got into trouble again; Egypt once again had good opportunities, one shot was blocked, another was strongly parried by goalkeeper Beach. An uneventful extension followed, both teams didn’t want to risk anything anymore. Not much happened anymore.

At least until Beach was substituted for colleague Ryan. Until Australia’s progress was in his hands. And until Coach Popovic’s surprise plan had to be filed with the note “failed”.