Hossam Hassan: I Have Confidence in All Players and Salah is a Very Smart Player

Hossam Hassan, the head coach of the Egyptian national team, spoke about the upcoming match against Iran, emphasizing that the opponent is a strong team, but the Pharaohs are striving to qualify for the round of 32 to fulfill the aspirations of the Egyptian people.

The Egyptian national team will face Iran tomorrow, Saturday, in the third and final round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.

Hossam Hassan said at the press conference: "The entire administrative staff, led by Captain Ibrahim Hassan, along with the medical and technical teams, have a role in the development. There is a system, and it is one of the reasons. I have always been one of those fortunate people who are constantly under pressure and skepticism, but God has granted us the love of the fans and our love for our country."

Regarding the consideration of advancing to the next round and resting some players due to injuries or bookings, he commented: "I am thinking about winning as well as the injuries and the players who have bookings. I have confidence in all the players. Anything is possible, but the goal of those participating is to achieve a positive result to qualify respectfully for the next round."

Regarding his relationship with Mohamed Salah and the secret behind the Pharaohs' star's brilliance, he responded: "Mutual respect is the key to my relationship with Salah. If both the player and the coach are convinced of each other, things will be easy. The star has great experience and knows that his coach has a certain style, and he gets his due on the field, along with the peace of mind he feels, despite facing some situations at his club."

He added: "Salah is a very intelligent player, and there is mutual benefit for the national team. No one in Europe would have utilized him in the same new role as with the national team, giving him freedom in a systematic way and not by chance. The Egyptian national team does not rely on a single star or player, and Salah has responded to this, which will benefit him at his next club."

"Progress only occurs with the players' desire to execute what is required of them and their responsiveness to the adjustments made during halftime of the New Zealand match, as well as repositioning some players who are familiar with my strategies. All respect to the strong Iranian team; there will be fair competition between us, but we are ambitious to fulfill the hopes of the Egyptian people."