Mohamed Barakat Talks About Egypt vs Belgium in the World Cup

Mohamed Barakat, the former Egyptian football star, spoke about the anticipated match between the Egyptian and Belgian national teams in the World Cup.

The Egyptian national team will face the Belgian national team next Monday in the first round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.

Mohamed Barakat said during his appearance on the program "Ya Masa' Al-Anwar" broadcast on "MBC Masr 2": "Even if Lukaku is ready or not, the age factor should be considered. Belgium's midfield includes relatively older players, and therefore his presence might add a physical burden on the team at certain times."

Barakat praised Helmy Toulan's perspective on the style of play, saying: "I agree with Captain Helmy Toulan that the most important thing is not just playing, but the way the match will be managed. I believe the Egyptian national team needs more defensive security against Belgium."

He concluded by saying: "I prefer the team to start with a stronger defensive setup that includes Hamdi Fathi, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Hany, Ahmed Fattouh, Marwan Attia, Mohanad Lasheen, and Imam Ashour, with Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush in the front line, because Salah won't be able to take on significant defensive roles, and therefore the backline should be reinforced against the strength of Belgium's attack."