One point and one goal each to begin the adventure at the 2026 World Cup. Thus the beautiful match, played in Seattle, between Belgium and Egypt ends in a draw, still missing the appointment with the first victory in a final phase of the maximum world championship.
Yet the Pharaohs came very close, dominating the first part of the match after taking the lead in the twentieth with a super Ashour, master of the midfield. In the second half the wind changed for Rudi Garcia’s team only thanks to the entry onto the pitch of Lukaku who, having just come on in place of De Ketelaere, favored Hany’s own goal and changed the game in favor of the red devils.
The choices of the two technical commissioners
In the debut match of group G (which also includes Iran and New Zealand), Garcia chooses De Ketelaere and not Lukaku at the center of the attack. De Bruyne on the attacking midfield and Trossard and Doku on the lanes. In defense, Castagne plays on the left. Onana and Tielemans in midfield.
For Egypt, coach Hassan relies on the two big names Marmoush and Salah in attack. Zico plays and not Trezeguet. Attia on the defensive line and Shoubir in goal.
Ashour deceives the Pharaohs
The first bell goes off for Belgium who seem more present at the start: Napoli midfielder De Bruyne tries from the edge of the penalty area but his shot goes wide. After just ten minutes he received two yellow cards, one for the Egyptian Attia, who knocks down Ngoy, and the other for the Belgian Castagne for a tactical foul on Salah.
A game that just as it seems to be on the track of balance sees Ashour’s flash arrive and take Egypt ahead: following a sudden verticalization by the Pharaohs the ball ends up at the feet of Salah who frees the Al-Ahly midfielder who is quick to launch a great right-footed shot from the edge of the area which surprises Courtois.
Lukaku changes the game
The second half begins again in the name of Salah and his teammates who immediately reach the dangerous conclusion first with Marmoush and then with the omnipresent Ashour. For its part, Garcia’s team is only dangerous from De Bruyne’s set piece.
With 25 minutes to go it’s time to see Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku back on the pitch, who comes on in place of De Ketelaere and immediately scores the goal with the first ball he touches: the Belgian attacks the penalty area well on a cross from the right and then slips past Shoubir, but the last touch is from Hany, then an own goal.
From here on the match is electrifying with both teams intent on outdoing each other until the final whistle which decrees a 1-1 which perhaps satisfies everyone.
BELGIUM – EGYPT 1-1, THE SCORESHEET
BELGIUM (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6; Meunier 6.5, Ngoy 5, Mechele 6.5, Castagne 6 (11’st De Cuyper 6); Onana 5.5 (11’st Raskin 6), Tielemans 6.5; Trossard 5, De Bruyne 6.5 (41’st Vanaken sv), Doku 5.5 (41’st Fernandez-Pardo sv); De Ketelaere 5 (21’st Lukaku 6.5). On the bench: Lammens, Penders, Theate, De Winter, Seys, Witsel, Moreira, Saelemaekers, Lukebakio. Coach: Garcia 6.
EGYPT (4-2-3-1): Shobeir 6.5; Hany 5.5, Ibrahim 6, Fathy 6 (43’st Adel sv), Aboul-Fetouh 6 (43’st Hafez sv); Attia 6.5, Lasheen 6; Ziko 6.5 (31’st Zizo 6), Salah 7 (31’st Abdelkarim 6), Ashour 6.5 (26’st Rabia 6); Marmoush 6. On the bench: Soliman, M. Alaa, El-Shenawy, Abdelmaguid, Abdelmonem, T. Alaa, Hassan, Saber, Trezeguet, Donga. Coach: Hassan 6.5.
REFEREE: Abatti (Bra) 6.
GOALS: 19′ pt Ashour, 21′ pt Hany (aut).
NOTES: clear afternoon, terrain in good condition. Booked: Attia, Castagne, Aboul-Fetouh, De Cuyper. Angles: 2-7. Recovery time: 4′ time, 5′ time. (