Egypt coach Hossam Hassan revealed he urged his players to block out the pressure and focus solely on their penalty kicks after they defeated Australia in a dramatic shootout to book a historic place in the World Cup Round of 16.
Following a 1-1 draw after extra time, Egypt converted all four of their penalties to seal a 4-2 shootout victory, earning the nation’s first-ever win in a World Cup knockout match.
Speaking after the game, Hassan explained the message he delivered to his players before the shootout.
“I wanted to take some pressure off them,” Hassan said. “I told them: ‘Don’t give in to the pressure. Don’t think about the crowd or anything happening around you. Just focus on your penalty. Don’t even think about the goalkeeper—only think about your kick.'”
A legendary figure in Egyptian football, Hassan said he understood exactly what his players were experiencing in such a high-pressure moment.
“As a coach and a former player, I know how much pressure there is. They’re thinking about the fans, the noise and everything else. My job was to help them clear their minds.”
Egypt’s flawless penalty display included a successful spot-kick from Mohamed Salah, who had previously endured heartbreak from the penalty spot during Egypt’s failed qualification bid for the 2022 World Cup against Senegal.
Hassan believed his side fully deserved their place in the last 16 after controlling much of the contest.
“I’m so proud of the team. From the first minute until the last, they produced a very strong performance. I think we controlled around 90 percent of the match.”
The coach also praised Australia while acknowledging his team’s persistence despite missed opportunities.
“Australia were a great opponent and gave us a difficult game. We created a lot of pressure and missed several chances. When Omar Marmoush missed a great opportunity early in the second half, I thought something might be going wrong. But we adjusted our game plan, made a few changes, and in the end it worked perfectly for us.”
Egypt’s historic triumph sends them into the Round of 16, where they will look to continue their memorable World Cup journey.
