• Egypt chase their first World Cup win in 92 years of competition history
• Mohamed Salah sits two goals shy of Hossam Hassan’s all-time scoring record
• The Liverpool forward carries a hamstring worry ahead of the Belgium clash
• The Pharaohs qualified easily via the new 48-team tournament format
• Hossam Hassan manages the squad he once captained as record goalscorer

Egypt’s largest telecom firm Orange recently broadcast humorous adverts starring national team players Ahmed Fatouh, Rami Rabia and Hossam Abdelmaguid. The sketches show family members mocking their optimism about reaching the knockouts. This self-deprecating humour captures the national mood.

The Pharaohs hold seven Africa Cup of Nations titles. However, they have lost all seven World Cup matches across three previous visits. While other African nations target Morocco’s 2022 semi-final feat, Egypt simply crave one victory.

Qualifying for the expanded 48-team finals proved straightforward. Salah drove the campaign with nine goals and three assists. The 34-year-old arrives in North America as a completed footballer. Since the 2018 tournament in Russia, he has won every major honour with Liverpool.

Injury clouds hover again. A damaged shoulder limited him in 2018. Now a hamstring problem threatens his sharpness. Happily, the issue appears less severe than six years ago, when teammates helped him pull on a training shirt.

Coach Hossam Hassan admits the side depends heavily on their captain. Salah could also break Hassan’s scoring record during the tournament. The manager expects his star to deliver in crucial moments.

Egypt face Belgium in their opening match on Monday. The squad understands the weight of 92 years of failure. Yet Salah offers genuine hope that history might finally change.