While most Uruguayans are doubtless hoping Mohamed Salah is not able to play in Egypt’s opening World Cup match and their side, Luis Suarez is not one of them.
The Egyptian ace faces a race against time to be fit for the tournament after he fell badly on his shoulder during Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid on Saturday.
If the injury is a bad as some fear then Salah’s absence would be a huge blow to the Pharaohs’ chances of making it out of Group A, where they face Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Suarez and Co. in their opening match on June 15.
But the Uruguay striker hopes Salah is well enough to play in the Yekaterinburg clash, and has wished Egypt’s star man well in his battle for fitness.
“When a colleague is injured and more in the type of match where he got injured, prior to his debut in a World Cup, it is difficult and complicated to be in the situation he now finds himself,” Suarez told a press conference.
“When I play, I want the best opponents in front of me to show that Uruguay are better, not for our rival to be better, but for Uruguay to win against the best.”
Four years ago the Barcelona striker himself faced a battle to be fit for the Brazil World Cup and said he did not want to see a fellow player miss out on playing on the biggest footballing stage of them all.
“He is in a situation that I went through four years ago, so I don’t wish it on anyone. That’s why I would like Salah to recover so that he can enjoy the World Cup which is going to be incredible," Suarez said.
Salah jetted out to Spain for treatment on Sunday with the Egyptian federation confirming the 25-year-old was in “high spirits” and “determined to return quickly to the ranks of the team.”
Luis Suarez wants Mohamed Salah to be fit enough to face Uruguay in Egypt’s opening World Cup clash
Luis Suarez wants Mohamed Salah to be fit enough to face Uruguay in Egypt’s opening World Cup clash
- Suarez wants Uruguay to face teams at full strength in Russia.
- Barcelona striker faced similar fitness battle ahead of Brazil World Cup four years ago.