Arabic version: مدرب مصر يكرم فلسطين بعد الفوز التاريخي في كأس العالم
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan dedicated his team’s World Cup knockout victory over Australia to the people of Palestine, who joined the rest of the Arab world in celebrating the historic victory through the night. The match, held at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, saw Egypt secure a spot in the Round of 16 following a dramatic penalty shootout, ending with a score of 4-2 after a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time. According to Al Jazeera, this victory marks Egypt’s first-ever win in a World Cup knockout stage.
The match was tightly contested, with Emam Ashour giving Egypt an early lead with a header in the 13th minute. However, the advantage was short-lived as an own goal by Mohamed Hany equalized the score for Australia 10 minutes into the second half. The tension culminated in the penalty shootout, where Hossam Abdelmaguid rolled in the winning spot-kick after Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington missed from 12 yards for the Australians, sending Egypt into a last-16 clash against either Argentina or Cape Verde.
After the match, Hassan expressed his heartfelt dedication to the Palestinian people, saying, “May God grant them victory, may God have mercy on their martyrs.” He proudly carried both the Egyptian and Palestinian flags onto the pitch, symbolizing solidarity with Palestine. Following the victory, the Egyptian team celebrated with a moment of prostration on the ground.
In Gaza, the win sparked joy among football fans, with many expressing their excitement on social media. Tamer Nahed, a resident of Gaza, shared his experience of watching the match amidst the destruction, noting that thousands gathered to celebrate Egypt’s achievement, bringing smiles and cheers in a time of hardship.
The victory also came after a separate incident involving the Egyptian team and local police, where players were reportedly involved in an altercation while trying to take a photo with a fan. The Dallas Police Department clarified that the situation had been resolved at the scene, ensuring the team’s focus remained on their historic win.
