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Hossam Hassan, head coach of the Egypt’s national team, at times looked as lifeless as a deflated soccer ball during a press conference on Thursday, June 26 at the 2026 World Cup.
It’s unlikely anyone in Egypt is complaining.
Two years after taking over the national team, Hassan has guided it to an expected place: on the verge of advancing to the Round of 32. Egypt will play Iran at Lumen Field in Seattle Friday, June 27 in its final group match.
In the tournament opener, Egypt beat New Zealand 3-1 for its first-ever World Cup victory. The team followed that up with a 1-1 draw against Belgium, and now Egypt sits atop the Group G standings.
Hassam, 59, is the all-time leading goal scorer for the Egyptian national team with 69 goals in 177 apperances. He's producing similar results as head coach, for which he was hired in 2024. The big test was the World Cup.
Egypt has scored four goals in two games, and four players each scored one.
“We do not put everything on one star or two stars and just bet that they will bring it for us,'' he said.
More: Egypt star Mohamed Salah delivers historic World Cup win
In discussing the approach, Hassan cited dynamic striker Mohamed Salah.
“(He) benefited from this and I think it's a new version of Mo Salah,’’ Hassan said. “He plays in a new position. He plays very freely in a very creative way.’’
Spirit and structure are his other fundamentals.
“If we have a team that has spirit but has no structure, they will lose,’’ Hassan said. “If they have structure and no spirit, they will lose. So you need both. You need both elements, you need structure, you need tactic, you need a technical vision and you need a good technical management as well for the players ...You have to be very creative.’’
With two draws, Iran has shown grit, maybe even enough to pull of the upset of Egypt Friday. Regardless of the outcome, Hassan and team already have provided immense cause for celebration. The team rallied from a 1-0 deficit at halftime to beat New Zealand and against Belgium, Emam Ashour ripped home the shot while it was Salah, the star, in the role of playmaker.
A reporter at the press conference Thursday seemed amazed by an apparent transformation on display.
“Yesterday after the training and after every match, we see a completely different personality of Mo Salah,’’ the reporter said.
Happy. Celebrating. Singing.
“…a completely different version of himself with Hassam Hassan,'' the reporter said.
Now Egypt leads the Group G standings with the four points, ahead of Iran and Belgium with two points apiece and New Zealand with one point.
Hassan is not taking the credit. Among those who deserve a piece is his twin brother, Ibrahim, who is Egypt's team director.
"Everyone has to do their part,'' Hassan said, "and...I think everything was perfect up until now.''
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Egypt surges in World Cup as team no longer relying on stars
Continue reading...
It’s unlikely anyone in Egypt is complaining.
Two years after taking over the national team, Hassan has guided it to an expected place: on the verge of advancing to the Round of 32. Egypt will play Iran at Lumen Field in Seattle Friday, June 27 in its final group match.
In the tournament opener, Egypt beat New Zealand 3-1 for its first-ever World Cup victory. The team followed that up with a 1-1 draw against Belgium, and now Egypt sits atop the Group G standings.
Hassam, 59, is the all-time leading goal scorer for the Egyptian national team with 69 goals in 177 apperances. He's producing similar results as head coach, for which he was hired in 2024. The big test was the World Cup.
Egypt has scored four goals in two games, and four players each scored one.
“We do not put everything on one star or two stars and just bet that they will bring it for us,'' he said.
More: Egypt star Mohamed Salah delivers historic World Cup win
In discussing the approach, Hassan cited dynamic striker Mohamed Salah.
“(He) benefited from this and I think it's a new version of Mo Salah,’’ Hassan said. “He plays in a new position. He plays very freely in a very creative way.’’
Spirit and structure are his other fundamentals.
“If we have a team that has spirit but has no structure, they will lose,’’ Hassan said. “If they have structure and no spirit, they will lose. So you need both. You need both elements, you need structure, you need tactic, you need a technical vision and you need a good technical management as well for the players ...You have to be very creative.’’
A player's transformation
With two draws, Iran has shown grit, maybe even enough to pull of the upset of Egypt Friday. Regardless of the outcome, Hassan and team already have provided immense cause for celebration. The team rallied from a 1-0 deficit at halftime to beat New Zealand and against Belgium, Emam Ashour ripped home the shot while it was Salah, the star, in the role of playmaker.
A reporter at the press conference Thursday seemed amazed by an apparent transformation on display.
“Yesterday after the training and after every match, we see a completely different personality of Mo Salah,’’ the reporter said.
Happy. Celebrating. Singing.
“…a completely different version of himself with Hassam Hassan,'' the reporter said.
Now Egypt leads the Group G standings with the four points, ahead of Iran and Belgium with two points apiece and New Zealand with one point.
Hassan is not taking the credit. Among those who deserve a piece is his twin brother, Ibrahim, who is Egypt's team director.
"Everyone has to do their part,'' Hassan said, "and...I think everything was perfect up until now.''
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Egypt surges in World Cup as team no longer relying on stars
Continue reading...
