Mohamed Salah reveals last-minute penalty call as Egypt reach World Cup last 16

Mohamed Salah has revealed he only decided at the final moment to attempt a Panenka-style penalty as Egypt edged past Australia to reach the World Cup last 16 for the first time in their history.

The Egypt captain calmly chipped his spot-kick during a tense shootout in Texas, helping his side secure a 4-2 victory after a 1-1 draw across 120 minutes.

Salah stepped up third and delivered under pressure despite carrying a hamstring strain, playing through the pain barrier to inspire his country on a landmark night.

“If somebody was going to do it, it would be me,” he said. “I am more experienced than others and I wanted to give them confidence.”

“I decided last minute, I had to do it.”

The 34-year-old, a former Liverpool forward, was visibly emotional after the match as Egypt celebrated a first-ever knockout win at a World Cup.

He described the moment as historic and urged his teammates to savour the achievement, saying the team had finally broken new ground on football’s biggest stage.

“I always try to enjoy every moment because it does not come back,” he said. “So I always tell the boys, just enjoy the moment.”

Egypt will now face either Argentina or Cape Verde in the round of 16 in Atlanta on Tuesday, 7 July, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.