Egypt will participate in the World Cup in Russia, which will start on 14 June, for the third time in its history, having participated twice, in 1934 and 1990, both times in Italy. Egypt did not win in either tournament and scored only three goals.
1934 World Cup
Egypt reached the World Cup in 1934 after eliminating Turkey and Palestine in the qualifiers. The former’s withdrawal made things easy and paved the path for the Egyptians to participate in the global event for the first time after winning 7-1 against Palestine on 16 March 1934. Three goals were scored by Mokhtar El-Tetsh and two from each of Mostafa Kamel and Mohamed Latif.
The Egyptian team won again in the second leg in Jerusalem on 6 April 1934, but that time with a score of 4-1. Mokhtar El-Tetsh scored two goals, while Mohamed Latif and Abdel Rahman Fawzy each scored once.
The tournament was held with the participation of 16 teams in the knockout system. The draw put Egypt against Hungary. The match took place on 27 May in Napoli. The Hungarian team scored two goals in the first 25 minutes. However, Abdel Rahman Fawzi, the Egyptian player who was named the best left winger in the World Cup, scored two goals at the 26th and 42nd minutes. The first half ended with a draw, then Hungary scored two goals, winning 4-2.
The Egyptian list included 17 players, although 20 players were allowed on the list: Kamel Masoud, Ali Mohammed El Kaf, Mahmoud Moukhtar, Mohamed
Hassan Helmi, Abdel Sharli, Mostafa Kamel Taha, Hassan El Far, Abdel Rahman Fawzi, Mohamed Latif, Ismail Rafaat, Hassan Raghab.
1990 World Cup
Egypt missed 56 years of the World Cup and returned again in Italy in 1990, having topped their group in the preliminary qualifiers with 8 points, with a 2-0 win and 0-0 against Kenya, a 1-0 win and a 1-1 draw with Malawi, a 2-0 and 0-1 loss against Liberia, to play a match with Algeria, which was hosted in the city of Constantinople on 8 October 1989. The game ended in a negative draw. Egypt’s Hossam Hassan scored four minutes into the game on 17 November 1989.
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was held with the participation of 24 teams divided into six groups, from which the first and second teams qualify. The best four teams in third could also qualify for the Round of 16. Egypt was in a group along with the Netherlands, the European champion of 1988, and included the best players of the world Marco van Basten, along with England led by Gary Lenniker, veteran goalkeeper Peter Shelton, and Irish national team captain Jackie Charlton.
Egypt faced the Netherlands on 12 June 1990 at Renzo Barbera Stadium in Milan, and a great match impressed the whole world after they managed to get out of the match with a 1-1 draw. Egypt’s goal was scored after a penalty in favour of Hossam Hassan. The goal was scored by Magdy Abdel Ghany at the 83rd minute.
Egypt did not complete the tournament in the same fashion. On 17 June, it played a game that came to be known as the most boring game in the cup, which was played against Ireland and ended 0-0, amid anger from Ireland coach Jackie Charlton, who attacked Egypt’s defence in the game.
The Egyptian team then moved to the city of Cagliari to face England on 21 June 1990. The chances were equal for both to qualify for the knockout stage. Egypt’s performance appeared better than in its game against Ireland, but conceded a goal in the 58th minute, losing and leaving the cup. England came in first place with four points, then the Netherlands and Ireland with three points each.
The Egyptian squad at the tournament included Ahmed Shobeir, Ibrahim Hassan, Rabie Yassin, Hany Ramzy, Hesham Yakan, Ashraf Kasem, Ismail Youssef, Magdy Abdelghany, Hossam Hassan, Gamal Abdelhamid, Tarek Soliman, Taher Abou Zeid, Ahmed Ramzy, Alaa Mayhoub, Saber Eid, Magdy Tolba, Ayman Shawky, Osama Oraby, Adel Abdelrahman, Ahmed El Kass, and Ayman Taher.
