Australia (2)1-1(4) Egypt - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

Pharaoh Enough: Egypt deservedly beat Australia in shootout lottery

One of the less star studded occasions that the round of 32 threw up for us at this World Cup, but a rather intriguing one nonetheless.

Australia and Egypt may not have been the most glamorous of affairs in any sense, but we once again got an interestingly poised affair where both clearly understood the magnitude of the task at hand.

Egypt were the aggressor for the large majority and probably deserved to go through on the basis of the tie, even if it did take the cruel lottery of penalties to separate the sides.

Australia vs Egypt as it happened

It must be said that the matchup did show some promise in the opening stages. Both sides clearly showed the intent to get on the front foot and go and win the game, although their was still an air of tension and a cagey nature about the early going.

In the 12th minute, that promise was turned to goal scoring goods by Egypt. Mo Salah went short with a free kick from the left flank which was picked up by eventual goalscorer Emam Ashour. Ashour saw his initial strike deflected to the edge of the box, but he hung around at the back post and the Australians failed to pick him up.

Karim Hafez was the man who got the second bite at the cherry. He spotted Ashour's movement at the back post and swung in a peach of a ball toward him. Ashour couldn't believe his luck and the Aussie's looked around in disbelief as he headed the ball home in acres of space.

Egypt forward Mostafa Ziko was then fortunate to see the assistants flag raised for offside as he raced through on goal but put his strike bewilderingly wide of the post in a 1vs 1 situation. That would ultimately be the only other moment of note before the hydration break.

Australia were the better of the sides between the hydration break and half time, but still struggled to really pose any direct threat to the Egyptian goal. A couple of half chances came and went before the half time whistle sounded on a rather intriguing half of football.

Half time: Australia 0-1 Egypt

Egypt really should have made the score 2-0 immediately after the restart. Omar Marmoush was sent into the box courtesy of a through ball and looked for all the world like he was going to stick the ball away. However, his side footed effort rolled uncharacteristically wide of the post and Australia received a massive let off.

The Aussies then squandered a chance of their own with a Metcalfe header that sailed well wide of the post. But that chance was ultimately a sign of things to come and just six minutes later they were back level.

A wicked delivery by O'Neill caused problems and skimmed off the head of Mohamed Hany inside the six yard box. His touch directed the delivery past the stranded Mostafa Shobeir and into the far corner, making it the centre-back's second OG of this World Cup tournament.

Egypt were the side who pushed late on for the winner, with the biggest chance courtesy of a powerful Rabia header that looked certain to nestle in the back of the net before Beach pulled off a worldie of a reaction stop to keep the game level. A Harry Souttar block on the edge of the six yard box after substitute Hassan's effort was the final action of the half and the referee's whistle signalled extra time.

Full time: Australia 1-1 Egypt

The first half of extra time resembled exactly what we have seen thus far in similar situations across the tournament - not a lot.

Egypt again were the most forward thinking, but there only real moment of note came in the form of a wayward first time effort by the anonymous Mo Salah who should really have done better.

Australia looked happy to sit in and hope for once chance to make the Africans pay, but ultimately seemed content to leave it up to the lottery of penalties.

Half time extra time: Australia 1-1 Egypt

The second half of extra time was almost the exact same as the first - who would have guessed?

Hassan was the livewire, as he had been since he was brought on, but Egypt couldn't muster any clear cut opportunities. Australia sat off and contained, almost as if they had decided penalties were the preffered route, but did create on final goalscoring chance thanks to some chaos in the area after a wicked corner but Shobeir gratefully managed to grasp the ball.

Any speculation that Australia may have been told to play for penalties was given some substantiation when Matt Ryan was brought on with a minute to go to replace Beach in goal.

The referee blew his whistle not long after... Penalties it was.

Full time extra time: Australia 1-1 Egypt

The Egyptian team spent the huddle prior to penalties watching footage of Matt Ryan's movement in what appeared a rather bizarre sight on the coverage. Whether it would work or not would soon be revealed.

Harry Souttar, wh had been a brick wall throughout the game, stepped up first and, with a stuttered run up not befitting of a big centre back, blazed his kick way over the upright.

Saber was far the opposite of his coutnerpart and finished empahtically. 1-0 Egypt.

Irvine stepped up next and placed his effort into the top cirner after watching the goalkeeper dive thr wrong way. 1-1.

Rabia, another centre back, did none of the fancy stuff we saw from Souttar and calmly sent Ryan the wrong way. 2-1 Egypt.

Mabil, the Australian subsitute, kept his eyes on Shobeir the whole time and finished well. 2-2.

Mo Salah was next keep his country firmly in front and, with a little panenka, chipped down the middle before staring down Ryan. Aura. 3-2 Egypt.

Australia then threw 18-year-old Herrington into the firing line, who had been excellent throughout the 90, but he agonisingly found the crossbar with his penalty. Heart-breaking but a long career ahead for the centre back no doubt.

Abdelmaguid was up next, with the chance to send his country through to the round of 16. You wouldn't have thought there was any pressure though with the way he slotted home calmly.

Egypt 4-2 on penalties, oh and how they deserved it.

Australia player ratings

Beach - 7

Bos - 5 Circati - 6 Souttar - 7 Herrington - 7 Behich - 6

Volpato - 6 Irvine - 6 O'Neill - 6 Metcalfe - 5

Irankunda - 6

Substitutes Trewin (46') - 6 Hrustic (74') - 5 Toure (74') - 6 Okon-Engstler (91') - 5 Mabil (91') - 6 Ryan (119') - 1 (just why?)

Egypt player ratings

Shobier - 5

Hany - 4 Ibrahim - 5 Rabia - 6 Hafez - 7

Fathi - 6 Ateya - 6

Ashour - 7 Salah - 5 Marmoush - 4

Ziko - 5

Substitutes Abdelmaguid (67') - 6 Hassan (67') - 7 Trezeguet (80') - 6

Man of the Match: Haissem Hassan

Hassan came off the bench in the 67th minute (please don't) and brought an attacking impetus to the game that none of the initial 22, or any of the other replacements, managed to muster.

Hassan huffed and puffed, but ultimately couldn't quite find the moment to blow the Aussie house down in normal time. Still though, there wasn't a lot to pick from in this game - especially after Souttar blazed his penalty into orbit - so Hassan, you get my vote pal.