Coupe du Monde 2026 – Egypte vs Argentine : Hossam Hassan, mauvais pe…

L’Égypte a quitté la Coupe du monde de la plus cruelle des manières. Alors qu’ils menaient 2-0, les Pharaons ont vu l’Argentine renverser complètement la rencontre pour s’imposer 3-2, grâce à trois réalisations inscrites dans les dix dernières minutes de ce huitième de finale.

Au coup de sifflet final, la frustration était immense dans le camp égyptien. Hossam Hassan n’a d’ailleurs pas caché sa colère, pointant du doigt certaines décisions arbitrales qui, selon lui, auraient influencé le sort de la rencontre. Toutefois, réduire cette élimination à l’arbitrage paraît insuffisant au regard du scénario du match. Si certaines décisions peuvent toujours faire débat, elles ne semblent pas expliquer à elles seules l’effondrement égyptien dans les derniers instants. L’Égypte avait les cartes en main pour décrocher sa qualification avant de laisser filer un avantage de deux buts. chickenroad-game.rodeo

Les choix tactiques discutables

Les choix tactiques du sélectionneur interrogent également. Les changements opérés par Hossam Hassan n’ont pas permis de conserver l’équilibre de l’équipe ni de gérer la fin de rencontre. Au contraire, l’Argentine a progressivement pris le contrôle du jeu, profitant d’une formation égyptienne de plus en plus basse, moins agressive dans le pressing et en difficulté sur le plan physique. L’usure des joueurs s’est fait ressentir au fil des minutes. Les Pharaons ont semblé incapables de conserver le ballon suffisamment longtemps pour casser le rythme des Argentins. Cette baisse d’intensité a offert à l’Albiceleste les espaces et la confiance nécessaires pour réussir une remontée spectaculaire.

Pourtant, l’Égypte a également eu les occasions de tuer définitivement le match. À plusieurs reprises, une meilleure gestion des contre-attaques aurait pu permettre d’inscrire un troisième but. Mais dans les moments décisifs, Omar Marmoush et Mahmoud Hassan « Trezeguet » ont manqué de lucidité dans le dernier geste ou ont effectué de mauvais choix, laissant l’Argentine en vie. À ce niveau de la compétition, ces détails font souvent toute la différence. Entre une gestion tactique perfectible, des remplacements qui n’ont pas eu l’effet escompté, une baisse physique évidente et un manque de réalisme offensif, l’Égypte a laissé échapper une qualification qui semblait pourtant lui tendre les bras.

L’arbitrage pourra toujours alimenter les discussions d’après-match. Mais au vu du déroulement de la rencontre, l’élimination des Pharaons s’explique avant tout par leur incapacité à maîtriser les dix dernières minutes. En football, mener 2-0 ne garantit jamais la victoire. Face à une équipe argentine expérimentée, la moindre baisse de régime se paie au prix fort.

Pour Hossam Hassan, cette rencontre laissera sans doute des regrets. Car au-delà des décisions arbitrales qu’il a contestées, ses choix tactiques et la gestion de la fin de match resteront au centre des analyses. L’Égypte avait toutes les cartes en main pour poursuivre son aventure mondiale, mais elle a finalement été victime de ses propres insuffisances autant que de la réaction de son adversaire.

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A less-experienced Springbok squad is showing “a bit more excitement” than usual in their preparations for the second Nations Championship Test against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

This comes after head coach Rassie Erasmus made 13 changes to his matchday 23 following their 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park.

Several players normally on the fringe of selection have been given the nod, including Embrose Papier, who last played a Test in 2018, one-cap Vincent Tshituka and Quan Horn, two-cap Cobus Wiese, as well as Johan Grobbelaar, Evan Roos, Zach Porthen, and Ben-Jason Dixon, who all have fewer than 10 Tests under their belts.

The matchday 23 features only 514 caps, and just 69 are held by bench players.

Young Springbok side not a gamble

SA Rugby mobi-unit coach Duane Vermeulen said the Springbok management were still taking Scotland seriously and wanted to win the game.

But they hoped to provide everyone in the squad with an opportunity this season, and this was a good game to reward those who haven’t had many chances lately.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a gamble,” Vermeulen said of the inexperienced group.

“The guys who get the opportunity to play, we definitely think they are good enough. You can play 150 caps but you are still a normal human being.

“We’ve got a lot of guys with a lot less caps, but there’s great energy in the group. Then you’ve got the calm heads of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jesse Kriel and Handré Pollard that can calm the nerves if there are any.

“There’s a bit more excitement in the squad this weekend than usual. If you direct that excitement into the right areas we will be in for a good game.”‘

Scotland is a ‘team on the up’

The former Springbok eighthman and double World Cup winner said they could not discount the fact that many players in the Scotland squad were part of the Glasgow Warriors team who beat the Bulls in the 2024 URC final at Loftus.

“They are well-coached, Glasgow maybe a little bit more than Edinburgh,” Vermeulen said.

“[Scotland] will probably have a good plan in how they want to play this game.

“They are a really fit side. They are skillful, and want to take the ball wide from one touchline to the other. Then they’ve got really mobile forwards.

“Everyone looks at their attack but they have a strong defence as well.”

He said Scotland’s 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba, and third-place finish in the Six Nations could also not be discounted.

“They are on the up and a team to make sure you know your roles and what you want to achieve.

“With the new mauling law you might see a different Scotland adapting to the new law style. They might maul a little bit more than you’d expect.”

Millions of fans around the globe continue to hold their breath as the 2026 FIFA World Cup enters the quarter-final phase. Every whistle, every decisive goal, and every dramatic save now carries greater meaning because only one national team will lift football’s most prestigious trophy.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has sparked massive excitement through a mix of historic moments, cultural fusions, and on-pitch drama. As the tournament progresses through the knockout stages, the energy continues to rise.

Why the FIFA World Cup 2026 is special

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already delivered moments that will be remembered for generations, blending history and unexpected brilliance into an unforgettable tournament. It marks the first time 48 teams will compete on the global stage. This massive expansion results in a record-breaking 104 matches played across the three co-host nations.

At the centre of the spotlight stands Argentine captain Lionel Messi, whose legendary career reached another remarkable milestone in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Messi etched his name deeper into football history by becoming the oldest player to score a FIFA World Cup hat-trick when playing against Algeria.

While football’s biggest stars have continued to shine, one of the tournament’s inspiring stories has come from an unlikely source. First-time participants Cabo Verde have captured the imagination of fans around the world with their best performance against some of the world’s powerhouses like Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia.

History has not only been made by players. Match official Katia Itzel García made history by becoming the first Latina referee to officiate a men’s World Cup match. The 2026 World Cup has showcased a historic global atmosphere, with the tournament being hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada for the first time.

The event has united three nations into one memorable celebration of culture, passion, and diversity. Every host city has brought its own unique identity, creating an unforgettable festival that extends far beyond the ninety minutes of play.

The tournament’s venues have played a major role. From world-class sports complexes to the climate-controlled mega-stadiums in Mexico City, fans have witnessed football played in some of the most impressive sporting arenas ever gathered for a World Cup. Each stadium has offered its own atmosphere, reflecting the rich heritage and modern innovation of its host nation.

A journey built on sacrifice

Every nation that qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup embarked on the tournament with one ambition: to reach the final and lift football’s most prestigious trophy. Behind that dream lay years of relentless preparation, tactical planning, personal sacrifice, and enduring faith.

However, while some teams aimed to place themselves among the sport’s elite, others wanted to break new ground, make history, or inspire their nations with memorable performances. Regardless of their ranking, every participant stepped onto the global stage driven by the same objective: to defeat every opponent and return home as FIFA World Cup champions.

Every player selected to represent their nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup earned that opportunity through years of dedication, discipline, and sacrifice. Countless hours were spent in training, maintaining physical fitness, overcoming injuries, and missing precious moments with family and friends in pursuit of football’s greatest dream.

Players’ commitment extended beyond the pitch, with strict diets, mental preparation, and relentless hard work shaping them into elite competitors. For each player, wearing their country’s colours on the world’s biggest football stage was the reward for years of unwavering determination and sacrifice.

Conclusion

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 moves closer to its final chapter, many nations have already seen their World Cup journey come to an end. They leave with unforgettable memories and the pride of representing their countries on football’s biggest stage. For those still in the competition, the dream remains alive, with every match bringing them one step closer to the trophy they have worked so hard to win.

In the end, only one nation will be celebrated as world champions, but the FIFA World Cup is not all about the team that lifts the trophy; it is a celebration of hope, unity, and love of football that brings people together across different cultures. Until the final whistle is blown, the journey continues, reminding the world why the beautiful game holds a special place in so many hearts.

The post One trophy, one dream, one people: The World Cup journey continues as quarter-finals commence appeared first on SportsAfrica - Sports news | Live scores | Match highlights | Betting tips.

The Springboks are banking on altitude and aerial dominance to beat Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, with Canan Moodie warning the visitors they’ll feel the difference. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.

Moodie, who has made Loftus his home ground for the past three seasons, said the Boks intend to use the 1,300m altitude as more than a physical edge, saying it’s central to how they plan to play on Saturday.

“It’s a fortress for us. The altitude isn’t just about the physical effect, it’s about how we play, putting them under pressure, being confrontational in the collisions, so by the end of the game they feel they’ve played a proper South African side.”

High-ball contests are shaping up as a key battleground. With aerial duels increasingly functioning as a de facto set-piece in the modern game, Moodie said the Boks have refined, but not reinvented, an approach built over years of preparation.

“We’re well prepped for the high balls,” he said. “They come with different tactics, but we’ve been doing this for years, so we trust our system and just clean up where we can.”

MORE: Boks expect Scottish chaos

Scotland arrive off the back of a good win over Argentina, with the bulk of their squad drawn from the Glasgow Warriors, a side the Vodacom Bulls faced recently in a URC semi-final. Moodie said that familiarity gives the Boks an edge heading into the clash.

“The majority of this Scotland squad is from Glasgow, so it gives us a good view of their attack and how they like to play,” he said, adding that Scotland’s backline poses a genuine threat when it plays with width.

Asked about the anticipated aerial battle, Moodie was unperturbed.

“Every team has different tactics there. We’ve adjusted while staying true to what’s worked for us, and we’ll execute our plan. If it doesn’t work and they come with something different, we’ll adapt.”

TOWNSEND: Boks provide the toughest test

Rather than dismiss the emergence of youngsters pushing established seniors, Moodie said he welcomed coach Rassie Erasmus’ philosophy of not allowing anyone to get too comfortable.

“We train at such a high level that you get pushed to your limits. The young guys push you, and that brings the best out of you. Are they far off? No, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough, and I’m testament to that.”

Moodie, who will start on the wing in his 25th Test, said his role spans far more than attacking width.

“My job this weekend is on the wing, and I’ll try to execute that as best I can: high balls, defensive structure, attack,” he said. “That’s where I’m needed.”

PLUS: Edwill thriving in Rassie’s team-first culture

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

The post Moodie: Boks to make Scots feel it appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.