While most Uruguayans are doubtless hoping Mohamed Salah is not able to play in Egypt’s opening World Cup match and their side, Luis Suarez is not one of them.
The Egyptian ace faces a race against time to be fit for the tournament after he fell badly on his shoulder during Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid on Saturday.
If the injury is a bad as some fear then Salah’s absence would be a huge blow to the Pharaohs’ chances of making it out of Group A, where they face Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Suarez and Co. in their opening match on June 15.
But the Uruguay striker hopes Salah is well enough to play in the Yekaterinburg clash, and has wished Egypt’s star man well in his battle for fitness.
“When a colleague is injured and more in the type of match where he got injured, prior to his debut in a World Cup, it is difficult and complicated to be in the situation he now finds himself,” Suarez told a press conference.
“When I play, I want the best opponents in front of me to show that Uruguay are better, not for our rival to be better, but for Uruguay to win against the best.”
Four years ago the Barcelona striker himself faced a battle to be fit for the Brazil World Cup and said he did not want to see a fellow player miss out on playing on the biggest footballing stage of them all.
“He is in a situation that I went through four years ago, so I don’t wish it on anyone. That’s why I would like Salah to recover so that he can enjoy the World Cup which is going to be incredible," Suarez said.
Salah jetted out to Spain for treatment on Sunday with the Egyptian federation confirming the 25-year-old was in “high spirits” and “determined to return quickly to the ranks of the team.”
Luis Suarez wants Mohamed Salah to be fit enough to face Uruguay in Egypt’s opening World Cup clash
Luis Suarez wants Mohamed Salah to be fit enough to face Uruguay in Egypt’s opening World Cup clash
- Suarez wants Uruguay to face teams at full strength in Russia.
- Barcelona striker faced similar fitness battle ahead of Brazil World Cup four years ago.
NEOM concede at the death for the second week in a row as Al-Taawoun salvage late draw
- NEOM narrowly lost to Al-Nassr 1-0 last weekend after Mohamed Simakan scored an injury-time winner
- Al-Taawoun followed up with a late equalizer by Mohammed Al-Kuwaykibi to deny them three points
RIYADH: The Saudi Pro League returned for Matchday 26, with the table beginning to take its final shape as the season enters its final quarter. The title contenders kick off on Friday and Saturday, but Thursday’s action focused on a clash between upper mid-table sides NEOM and Al-Taawoun, alongside three relegation-battlers — Al-Najma, Damac and Al-Kholood — attempting to improve their standings.
In Tabuk, NEOM played out a 2-2 draw with Al-Taawoun, this season’s surprise package under the returning Pericles Chamusca. After a brilliant start to the campaign that saw them spend much of the season in the top four, a poor run of just one win in their last eight games has followed.
Al-Taawoun’s late equaliser was vital in their bid to maintain a spot in the top five. With Al-Ittihad lurking just three points behind and yet to play this weekend, every point matters for the Wolves of Qassim. Regardless, it has become a painful second half of the season for Chamusca’s side, as they now sit 12 points behind the top four.
After a heroic performance from Luis Maximiano against Al-Nassr last weekend, NEOM were unfortunate to leave Riyadh empty-handed after conceding at the death. There were still plenty of positives from the defeat, as Christophe Galtier’s squad appear to have finally hit second gear this season.
Calm and collected against Al-Nassr, they repeated the same approach against Al-Taawoun. Knowing their opponents thrive on space in the transition, NEOM prevented them from accessing wingers Marin Petkov and Biel, leaving star striker Roger Martinez isolated for most of the match.
Amadou Koné and Abdoulaye Doucouré did their part to disrupt the centre of Al-Taawoun’s block, with the former driving forward and the latter drifting in between the lines to create the opener. In the 23rd minute, Al-Taawoun’s defence were pulled apart as Luciano Rodríguez met Doucouré’s precise through ball to slot home.
NEOM maintained their composure throughout the match, but it took a wonder strike from Martinez to bring the visitors level in the 70th minute, the Colombian producing a superb strike from distance.
It only took six minutes for NEOM to respond. Saïd Benrahma broke down the Al-Taawoun defence once again, releasing Alexandre Lacazette for a powerful finish to restore the hosts’ lead.
Despite the strong performance from NEOM, they ultimately fell victim to another late setback. Substitute Mohammed Al-Kuwaykibi surged down the flank in stoppage time before cutting inside and curling a precise finesse shot beyond Maximiano to salvage a point.
Elsewhere, Damac continued their resurgence under Fabio Carrille with a 3-1 victory over Al-Najma, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table. The win moves Damac six points clear of Al-Riyadh in the relegation zone, while Al-Najma sit 14 points from safety with eight matches remaining.
Meanwhile, Al-Hazem secured a late victory after Abdulaziz Al-Dwehe netted an 86th-minute winner in a 2-1 triumph over Al-Kholood. It was a frustrating night for the Saudi Pro League’s all-time leading scorer Omar Al-Somah, who missed a penalty for the winners in the 60th minute.
Saudi Pro League action resumes on Friday, with Al-Fayha hosting Al-Ettifaq and Al-Riyadh welcoming Al-Ittihad at 10:00pm. The headline fixture of the evening — kicking off at the same time — sees second-placed Al-Ahli travel to face fourth-placed Al-Qadsiah. Victory for Al-Ahli against tough opposition would strengthen their title push, while defeat for Al-Qadsiah could effectively end their unlikely championship hopes.
