Mo Salah fit for Egypt’s last-32 clash with Australia

What happened: The Guardian reports that Mohamed Salah is fit to face Australia in Egypt’s last-32 World Cup match in Dallas after a hamstring strain. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan confirmed Salah was fit enough to play, and the forward was seen training with teammates on Thursday. The unresolved part is his usage: the report says there is still uncertainty over whether he starts or comes off the bench.

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Why it matters: Salah’s availability changes the temperature of the tie even without a confirmed starting role. For Australia, the preparation problem becomes more complicated because Egypt can build around him from the opening whistle or hold him as a high-impact option later. Either scenario forces the Socceroos to account for him in their defensive planning.

Tournament impact: This is a knockout match, so partial availability can still be decisive. A player who is fit enough to play does not need to be guaranteed 90 minutes to alter risk calculations. Egypt now have the option of using Salah’s presence to stretch Australia tactically, psychologically, or both. Australia, meanwhile, must avoid letting one player’s status dominate their own match plan.

Selection angle: The key uncertainty is whether Hassan believes Salah is ready to start after the hamstring issue. Starting him would suggest Egypt are comfortable with his condition and want their most influential attacking figure involved from the beginning. Using him from the bench would point to a more managed approach, preserving him for a specific phase of the game or protecting against recurrence.

Australia’s challenge: The Guardian’s description notes that the Socceroos are set to face Salah, but not necessarily from kickoff. That distinction matters for substitutions, defensive assignments, and game state. If he starts, Australia deal with him immediately. If he is held back, they may have to manage a late shift in Egypt’s attacking profile when legs are heavier and the stakes are sharper.

What to watch: Team sheets will tell the real story. Until then, the confirmed intelligence is availability, not role. The most important follow-up is whether Salah is named in the starting lineup, how Egypt manage his minutes, and whether the hamstring strain visibly limits his movement during the match.

Confidence: Confirmed by The Guardian: Salah trained with Egypt, Hossam Hassan said he is fit enough to play, and Egypt face Australia in a last-32 World Cup match in Dallas. Still needing follow-up: whether Salah starts, how many minutes he can handle, and whether the hamstring issue affects his performance.