Egypt told they cannot rely on Mohamed Salah in Russia

Egypt have been told they cannot rely on Mohamed Salah to guide the Pharaohs to the knockout stages of the World Cup. That is the message from the side’s coach Hector Cuper, who revealed he was optimistic the side’s star will play a part in Russia.
Since he injured his shoulder during Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final, all the talk has centered on whether Salah would be fit enough to play in Egypt’s first World Cup since 1990. But for Cuper such talk gets in the way of the real issue; that the side should not depend on Salah for  glory, regardless of the 25-year-old’s fitness.
“We hope we won’t be affected, we try to be the same team, we can’t be dependent on one player,” Cuper said. “He’s important but if he’s not fit in time we will be ready with another player.
“This is football, these things can happen to any player. We could need to substitute him, but we hope that won’t be the case.”
Salah was included in Egypt’s final 23-man squad, with the team’s medical staff suggesting it will be touch and go for the player to be ready in time for their Group A game against Uruguay in Ekaterinburg on June 15.
“Salah is in a stage of recovery not just for treatment on his shoulder,” Cuper added. “We need to improve his demeanour and his fitness level because the injury has prevented him from training as a normal player.
“But we have very good news from our doctor, we hope he will be with us before Uruguay. We are optimists and we are waiting for him.”
The idea of not being dependant on one player, especially one who is a big fitness doubt, is obviously no bad idea. However, stats illustrate that when it comes to Egypt and Salah, that may be much harder to put in to practice than say.
During qualification the national hero had a hand in all seven of the Pharaohs’ goals — scoring five and setting up the other two. In Egypt the hero worship stems as much from his international displays —  especially his crucial brace against the Congo which secured qualification to Russia — as from his  sensational performances for  Liverpool last season.
Salah, who netted 44 goals in an incredible first season for the Reds after joining from AS Roma, was voted Player of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association last month, becoming the first African to win the prestigious award. That gong came on the back of a host of other awards, including the PFA Player of the Year and African Player of the Year.

Egypt told they cannot rely on Mohamed Salah in Russia