Egypt coach denies Salah rift ahead of New Zealand World Cup match
Egypt's national team coach has rejected reports of a dressing room rift with captain Mohamed Salah at a press conference. Egypt will face New Zealand at the World Cup and needs a win to keep its qualification hopes alive. Salah has been confirmed in the starting line-up.
Al Jazeera reported that Egypt coach Hossam Hassan, at a press conference, called local media reports of a dressing room rift with Salah "completely false". Egypt has lost its opening match to Belgium and then drawn with Sweden.
Liverpool star Salah missed a penalty in the Belgium game in what proved a tense moment. Egyptian media had alleged friction in training; Hassan said "Mohamed is the dressing room leader and I am behind him". Salah has been confirmed in the starting eleven for New Zealand.
The match is a must-win to keep Egypt from early elimination. New Zealand picked up its first ever World Cup win against Paraguay in Sao Paolo and is well placed for the runner-up spot. The match will be played at Audi Field in Washington under FIFA's twin-venue arrangement.
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