Egypt Receive Hero's Welcome After 3-2 World Cup Loss to Argentina

Q: Was Argentina’s miracle comeback a show of champion resilience or a result of VAR drama that cost Egypt history?

It was both: a genuine display of Argentina’s champion resilience, but one that will remain inseparable from VAR controversy that Egypt believes cost them history. Argentina’s comeback was extraordinary on its own terms. The defending champions were 2-0 down deep into the second half, Messi had already missed a penalty, and Opta gave them only a 0.6% chance of winning after Cristian Romero made it 2-1 in the 79th minute. Yet Romero’s goal sparked the turnaround, Messi equalized four minutes later, and Enzo Fernandez won it in stoppage time. Scoring three times from the 79th minute onward against a disciplined Egypt side is the kind of late surge associated with elite tournament teams. But Egypt’s sense of injustice is grounded in specific incidents, not just emotion. The biggest flashpoint was Mostafa Ziko’s disallowed goal, which would have put Egypt further clear before Argentina’s rally. VAR ruled out the strike for a foul in the buildup far from goal, a decision widely criticized by former players and refereeing analysts as an overreach. Egypt also complained about a denied penalty appeal for Hamdy Fathy and an alleged foul by Alexis Mac Allister before Argentina’s winner. The Egyptian FA has filed an official complaint. So the fairest reading is that Argentina earned the comeback through quality and nerve, but the match was shaped by officiating decisions serious enough to leave Egypt with a credible case that the result was altered at a historic moment.

3 articles · Updated · GOAL English · Jul 8

Hundreds of supporters greeted Mohamed Salah and Egypt's squad at their team base after a crushing 3-2 World Cup defeat, applauding a run that ended in visible heartbreak.
Atlanta had looked set for a historic Egypt breakthrough: they led reigning champions Argentina 2-0 with 11 minutes left and were closing on a first quarter-final appearance.
Cristian Romero started the comeback in the 79th minute, Lionel Messi equalised, and Enzo Fernandez headed the stoppage-time winner that left several Egypt players sprawled on the turf.
Salah, visibly emotional on the team's return, joined his teammates in saluting fans who chose to honor the performance rather than the collapse.