Vancouver (Canada): Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world and a nation located alongside Israel and Palestine in the Middle East, created a new chapter in its football history on Monday at the FIFA World Cup. Egypt made its World Cup debut in 1934, 92 years ago, but until now, none of its teams had managed to win a single match in the tournament. That long wait finally came to an end as Egypt secured its first-ever World Cup victory.
Egypt defeated New Zealand 3-1 to move to the top of Group G with four points. Iran and Belgium are placed second and third respectively with two points each, while New Zealand remains at the bottom of the group. New Zealand took an early lead in the fourth minute through Sarman, making it 1-0. No further goals were scored in the first half.
However, Egypt staged a remarkable comeback after the break, scoring three goals in the second half. Mostafa Zico equalized in the 58th minute, before Mohammed Salah put Egypt ahead 2-1 with a goal in the 67th minute. Trezeguet added a third goal in the 82nd minute, sealing a memorable 3-1 victory for the Egyptians.
Since making their World Cup debut in 1934, two to three generations of Egyptian footballers have represented the country over the past 92 years. While they managed to earn a few draws along the way, they had never been able to deliver a World Cup victory for their nation until now.
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The Egyptian players celebrated the historic triumph with the kind of joy and excitement usually reserved for winning a final. Celebrations broke out across the country, particularly in the capital city of Cairo, as fans marked a landmark moment in Egyptian football history.
