Russia vs Egypt: Mohamed Salah unable to save Pharoahs from heavy defeat on his much-anticipated World Cup debut - scouting report

The Liverpool superstar looked rusty and short of fitness in Saint Petersburg, though defensive lapses were ultimately to blame for Egypt's loss against Russia

Mohamed Salah’s long-awaited return from injury was always likely to fall short of sky-high expectations, and the visibly rusty Liverpool superstar was unable to save Egypt from a comprehensive 3-1 defeat against Russia that leaves them on the brink of World Cup elimination.

Hector Cuper had done all he could to ensure the readiness of his talisman for this match, leaving Salah an unused substitute in Friday’s 1-0 loss to Uruguay in Yekaterinburg and putting him through a battery of fitness checks that included a coach repeatedly barging into the left shoulder he injured in that infamous Champions League final tussle with Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos last month.

But there was, from the start, a sense that Salah had been deemed fit for this game because Egypt needed him to be, rather than because he was truly ready to go. He flitted largely on the edges of the action, trying to maximise the moments when his teammates managed to get him the ball while avoiding physical contact with Russian defenders wherever possible.

No Egyptian outfield player had fewer touches than Salah in the first half, partly a product of Russia’s swarming defence and partly the result of their opponents’ lack of midfield quality. The ball moved forward much more slowly than it does at Liverpool, invariably resulting in attacks being funnelled through the muscular frame of target man Marwan Mohsen.

Salah’s best moment of the opening 45 minutes came when a clever Mohsen dummy isolated him against Yuri Zhirkov on the edge of the box. His normal sharp close control deserted him but he reacted quickest to the loose ball, unleashing a curling shot on the turn that briefly had Igor Akinfeev scrambling for his far post and millions in Egypt holding their breath.

(AFP/Getty Images)

The attention that Salah commanded also created opportunities elsewhere; Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” began brightly on the opposite flank, dribbling with ambition and passing neatly, though his influence waned as the match progressed. Mohsen was also a handful for Russia’s veteran defence, winning battles in the air and on the floor.

Salah’s link-up play was neat enough, but the explosive acceleration and aggressive runs that underpinned his phenomenal season for Liverpool were noticeably absent from his performance. Egypt’s hopes of victory were already beginning to look optimistic before Russia ruthlessly took the game away from them in 17 disastrous second-half minutes.

Egypt’s final chance to salvage a result came shortly after Ahmed Fathi’s agonising own goal. Mohsen, who showed good awareness of midfield runners all night, slipped the ball to Salah as he darted across the penalty area. The ball got stuck under his right foot and by the time he was ready to shoot with his left, a Russian body had blocked the path to goal.

When his moment finally came in the 73rd minute, it was bittersweet. Salah’s finish from the penalty spot was emphatic after he had been hauled down by Roman Zobnin, but Egypt’s collapse at the other end meant few could enjoy his 46th goal of a remarkable season.

Regardless of whether or not he adds to his tally against Saudi Arabia next Monday, Salah will leave this World Cup with few happy memories, as well as frustration that his body did not allow him to contribute more. The reality, though, is that defensive lapses have done more to undermine Egypt’s hopes of success in Russia than the limitations of their hero.