If we could travel back to the summer of 2018, to the historic weeks when Egypt made its long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup after a 28-year absence, the contrast with today’s national team would be remarkable.
While Mohamed Salah, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet and Mohamed El Shenawy were carrying the hopes of millions of Egyptians on football’s biggest stage in Russia, many of the players who now make up the core of the national team were living very different realities. Some were still academy prospects taking their first steps in youth football, others were battling in lower divisions across Egypt and Europe, while several were simply watching the tournament from home like any other fan, unaware that they would one day become central figures in Egypt’s future.
Eight years later, we look back at where Egypt’s current internationals were when the world’s attention was fixed on Russia.
Goalkeepers
Mohamed El Shenawy: Already at the peak of his powers, El Shenawy was Egypt’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2018 World Cup. He produced an outstanding display against Uruguay in the Pharaohs’ opening match and was named Man of the Match. He was also Al Ahly’s undisputed No.1.
Mostafa Shobeir: Still part of Al Ahly’s youth setup, Shobeir had yet to establish himself as a regular member of the senior squad. El Mahdy Soliman: The goalkeeper was playing for Smouha before securing a move to Pyramids FC in July 2018, during the club’s transformative investment-backed project.
Mohamed Alaa: Just a youngster beginning his football journey in the youth ranks of Canal SC.
Defenders
Mohamed Hany: An Al Ahly player at the time, Hany was fighting to earn a place behind veteran Ahmed Fathi. He was ultimately left out of Héctor Cúper’s final World Cup squad.
Ramy Rabia: The defender endured a frustrating period, missing the World Cup because of a serious groin injury that sidelined him for months.
Yasser Ibrahim: Then a Smouha centre-back, Ibrahim was impressing in the Egyptian Premier League before later earning a move to Al Ahly.
Mohamed Abdelmonem: Still an Al Ahly academy player and largely unknown to the wider football public.
Tarek Alaa: Developing through Smouha’s youth system, where he would eventually progress to the first team.
Hossam Abdelmaguid: A youth player at Zamalek, working his way through the club’s academy ranks.
Ahmed Fatouh: An emerging talent at Zamalek, gradually earning opportunities as deputy to experienced left-back Mohamed Abdel Shafy.
Karim Hafez: Playing professionally in Turkey with İstanbul Başakşehir, Hafez was included in Egypt’s preliminary World Cup squad but did not make the final cut.
Midfielders
Hamdi Fathi: A standout performer for ENPPI, whose form would soon convince Al Ahly to sign him in January 2019.
Marwan Attia: Still developing in the youth ranks of Al Ittihad Alexandria.
Mohannad Lasheen: Playing for Al Assiouty Sport before moving to Tala'ea El Gaish in the summer of 2018.
Nabil Emad "Dunga": A key player at Al Assiouty Sport. Following the club’s takeover and rebranding as Pyramids FC, Dunga
remained and began his rise to prominence.
Mahmoud Saber: Part of Nogoom FC’s youth academy.
Ahmed Sayed "Zizo": Beginning his European adventure with Portuguese side Moreirense.
Emam Ashour: A promising midfielder at Ghazl El Mahalla in Egypt’s second division before later joining Haras El Hodoud on loan.
Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet": One of Egypt’s mainstays at the World Cup, starting all three matches in Russia while enjoying some of the best football of his career at Turkish club Kasımpaşa, joining the Premier League’s Aston Villa the following year.
Ibrahim Adel: A youth player at Al-Mareekh Port Said.
Haitham Hassan: Part of the youth setup at French club Châteauroux, where he was impressing at academy level.
Mohamed Salah: The undisputed face of Egyptian and African football. Despite carrying a shoulder injury sustained in the UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid, Salah scored twice at the World Cup against Russia and Saudi Arabia while cementing his status as a global star with Liverpool.
Forwards
Omar Marmoush: Having moved from Wadi Degla to Germany in 2017, Marmoush was playing for Wolfsburg's reserve team in the lower tiers of German football during the summer of 2018.
Hamza Abdel Karim: Just 10 years old at the time.
Mostafa Abdel Raouf "Zico": Playing in Egypt’s second division with Gomhoria Shebin, still a long way from the international spotlight.