The 4-0 in Jeddah — Zizo, Trezeguet, and Marmoush Ignite the Stadium
From the 3rd minute Egypt set the tone for the night when Islam Issa latched onto Zizo's elegant pass and fired it into the Saudi goal before the defensive line had time to reorganise. In the 16th minute Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet added a second with a composed aerial header from a well-delivered cross. The third came in the 44th minute in the form of an outrageous chip from Zizo, who lobbed the goalkeeper with an artistic touch that deserved to be watched again and again. And in the 55th minute Omar Marmoush unleashed a thunderbolt from outside the box to seal a scoreline Arab football did not see coming.
The first appearance of Haitham Hassan in the national team shirt was a noteworthy subplot in a night that had everything.
The 0-0 With Spain — Is It an Achievement?
Four days later, entirely different opponent and entirely different standard required. Spain, world champions and the most tactically imposing force in modern football, welcomed Egypt in Barcelona and failed to break down their defence across ninety minutes. The 0-0 draw is not a visual spectacle but it is a genuine tactical spectacle — an Arab team keeping Spain without a goal at home is a metric worth pausing on.
The manager set up a high-pressing defensive system that left no spaces, and the players executed the plan with notable discipline. This kind of draw builds psychological confidence that perhaps surpasses a three-goal win in other matches.
The World Cup Awaits Egypt in Group 7
All these preparations feed into one objective: Group 7 at World Cup 2026, which sees Egypt face Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand. A group that looks navigable if the squad maintains the performance level of their recent preparations — Belgium are the major obstacle but the matches against Iran and New Zealand represent a golden opportunity to claim two spots in the round of eighteen.
The Pharaohs know the ground is prepared, and the Egyptian public has not experienced the joy of genuine World Cup participation since Italy 1990 when they reached the round of sixteen. Thirty-six years of absence and dreaming — enough to turn every friendly into a moment of weight and symbolism.
Summary
Egypt's international week ahead of World Cup 2026 was better than anyone could have expected from a team still in the building phase. Four goals against Saudi Arabia demonstrate attacking sharpness, and the Spain draw highlights defensive solidity. The combination the manager is trying to establish has become clearer — and the World Cup this summer will reveal whether the preparations were enough to turn hope into reality.
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