Argentina pulled off one of the greatest World Cup comebacks of all time as they beat Egypt 3-2 to reach the quarter-finals.
Egypt took the lead in the 15th minute through Yasser Ibrahim, who headed home following a set-piece. Argentina had the chance to level moments later, but Lionel Messi’s penalty was well-saved.
The Pharaohs thought they had got a second just before the hour-mark, with Mostafa Zico finishing off a wonderful team move. But it was ruled out after VAR review for a foul earlier in the move. Less than 10 minutes later, however, Egypt did go 2-0 up through Zico after a quick break from an Argentina corner.
Argentina got a goal back with just over 10 minutes left to play as Cristian Romero heading in a Messi cross. And Messi made the crucial impact once more, lashing home an equaliser moments later.
They got the winner in second-half injury time, as Enzo Fernandez headed home at the end of a counter-attack. It’s the first time Argentina have won a World Cup game having trailed by at least two goals, at the 14th attempt.
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Argentina vs Egypt analysis:
Mercurial Lionel Messi
Where would Argentina be without Lionel Messi? Before the game, we looked at how important Messi is to Argentina. Of course, that’s an unsurprising statement. Any player of Messi’s quality would be important to their team. And it would be a privilege to be able to rely on them to get you out of danger.
While some older stars have been a hindrance to their teams, and culpable for their World Cup exits, Messi is the reason Argentina are still going.
For some time, it looked as though Messi would be part of the reason for their exit. The 39-year-old had missed Argentina’s biggest chance, seeing his first-half penalty saved. It was the second penalty Messi has missed at the World Cup this summer, the first player to miss more than one at a single tournament (excluding shootouts).
Outside of Messi, Argentina weren’t creating enough chances. And their shots weren’t testing Mostafa Shobeir enough. Before their first goal, they had taken 12 shots with 1.58 Expected Goals. But that dropped down to 0.98 post-shot xG, with only four on target.
And then Messi put in a good cross to Cristian Romero, setting Argentina on the way. Moments later, Messi lashed the ball into the roof of the net via a slight hand from the goalkeeper. It was a wonderful equaliser from a man who doesn’t know how to stop scoring. He’s now scored in nine consecutive World Cup matches, extending his own record.
Messi was in tears at full-time, knowing how close he and Argentina were to exit. He ended the game having hit the target with two of his five shots, six chances created and five take-ons completed. What a player.
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A bad evening for defenders
This game will be remembered for the excellent comeback. No one will really be putting much thought into the way the goals came, and the defending around them. But the defending was key to the outcome of this game. At both ends of the pitch.
Argentina trailed as a result of poor defending. Egypt’s opener came via a set-piece, and a cross into the box. Lisandro Martinez was the one caught out, flat-footed as Yasser Ibrahim found an inch of space in the box. It left Martinez scrambling to challenge Ibrahim in the air, and he lost the battle.
Egypt’s second came from an Argentina corner, but the Albiceleste still had three players back to challenge Mo Salah. The ball was eventually played to Haissam Hassan, who had joined Salah in the attack. He then put a cross towards the far post, where Mostafa Zico was on hand to finish. Martinez again was the one caught out, unaware of Zico’s run ahead of him.
The comeback started with Romero’s header, and Ibrahim went from hero to villain. He was marking Romero when the ball came into the box but didn’t follow his man. It allowed the Argentina a free header, as Ibrahim stood still in his position. A position from which he had also played Romero onside.
Ibrahim had a role to play in the winner too, again beaten in the air by Enzo Fernandez. And the midfielder was able to get onto the ball as Ibrahim had initially misread the flight, stepping forward before having to move back.
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