Mohamed Salah’s tournament opener ended in the 57th minute after the Egypt captain clutched his hamstring and asked to be substituted in the 12th minute of the second half of the 1-1 draw with Iran. The Liverpool forward had created three clear chances in the first 45 minutes but signaled for the bench, forcing coach Hossam Hassan to act swiftly. Hassan confirmed Salah’s request and said medical staff immediately assessed the severity of the knock on the pitch.
“He felt something in his hamstring and asked to come off,” the coach told reporters. ” The substitution was made for Omar Marmoush, who entered with Egypt holding a one-goal lead. Egypt equalized in the 63rd minute after Iran’s Sardar Azmoun converted a rebound from a missed penalty, leveling the match at 1-1.
The draw leaves Egypt with one point from their opening game, while Iran salvage a share of the points. The result hinges on Salah’s fitness status ahead of Egypt’s next fixture. Salah’s absence reshaped Egypt’s attack, with Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed struggling to replicate his creativity.
” The hamstring scare adds pressure to Egypt’s squad depth, already thin after injuries to key players like Ahmed Hegazi and Trézéguet. With Salah’s role as both creator and finisher irreplaceable, the bench faces an immediate test of tactical flexibility. Marmoush, a versatile attacker, must now shoulder more responsibility, while younger options like Mostafa Fathi and Omar Kamal may need to step up.
Statistically, Salah’s early exit disrupted Egypt’s expected xG output. 4 xG in the 12 minutes after his substitution—a drop of 78%. This gap underscores the void his absence creates in the attack.
The decline reflects the direct link between Salah’s involvement and Egypt’s attacking efficiency, a pattern likely to recur if he misses further matches. The tactical shift forced by Salah’s exit exposed Egypt’s reliance on individual brilliance over collective structure. Without his dribbling and off-ball movement, the team reverted to a more direct style, losing the positional play that had stretched Iran’s defense in the first half.
This exposed a vulnerability that opponents in upcoming fixtures could exploit if Egypt fails to adapt. What’s next: Egypt’s medical team will complete scans and assessments within 24 hours. A decision on Salah’s availability for the next match is expected by Tuesday.
The tournament schedule resumes on Wednesday, with Egypt potentially needing a result regardless of his status. Read at ClearSports
Why this matters
Salah’s hamstring issue is a tournament-altering moment for Egypt. The talisman’s fitness underpins their entire attacking strategy; any extended absence would force a tactical overhaul and shift expectations from contention to damage control. A short layoff may be manageable, but a lingering spell could derail their campaign before it gains momentum. The squad’s depth is now under the microscope, with no margin for further setbacks. The tactical adjustments required without him highlight a structural weakness that could be exploited by sharper opponents.
Frequently asked
How long was Mohamed Salah on the pitch before he asked to come off?
Salah played 57 minutes total—45 in the first half and 12 in the second—before signaling for substitution due to his hamstring complaint.
Who replaced Mohamed Salah against Iran?
Omar Marmoush came on for Salah in the 57th minute, entering with Egypt leading 1-0.
What was the final score between Egypt and Iran?
The match finished 1-1 after Sardar Azmoun equalized for Iran in the 63rd minute.
When will Egypt know if Salah can play next?
Egypt’s medical staff aims to complete scans within 24 hours, with a decision expected by Tuesday ahead of the next match.
How many clear chances did Salah create before his substitution?
Salah created three clear chances in the first half before pulling up and requesting to come off.
What is Egypt’s expected xG with and without Salah on the pitch?
Egypt generated 1.8 xG with Salah in the first half and just 0.4 xG in the 12 minutes after his substitution, a drop of 78%.
