Sports
Muchova thriller seals all-Czech Wimbledon final with Noskova
Karolina Muchova was ready to put her body on the line for a place in the Wimbledon final. A maiden Grand Slam title could heal all past wounds when she takes on Czech compatriot Linda Noskova on Saturday.
Even as Muchova’s surgically patched-up body went hurtling toward the turf after conjuring a showstopping dive volley to catch Coco Gauff off guard in their semifinal, she never lost sight of the ball.
So what if the shot had taken the racket out of her hands, or that the fall could once again damage a body that had already been put through the wringer with an assortment of ankle, abdominal, and wrist injuries?
That single-minded focus allowed Muchova to end Gauff’s incredible run of living dangerously at this year’s Wimbledon as she saved a match point in the third-set tiebreak to topple the American in a nerve-shredding 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12-10) thriller.
All-Czech final
With compatriot and ninth-seed Noskova beating Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-4 in Thursday’s second semifinal, a subdued contest by comparison, the duo set up an all-Czech women’s final at a Grand Slam for the first time.
It also meant that for the third time in four years, a Czech will hold aloft the Venus Rosewater Dish, following the triumphs of Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova in 2024.
“It was such a big fight. It was a rollercoaster, you’re up and down,” a beaming 29-year-old, still trying to catch her breath, told the crowd.
“In 10 seconds, you have a match point, then you’re match point down. There’s no time to think, but very nerve-racking. I don’t even know what I’m saying.
“I’m really shaking and trying to let it sink in, but the atmosphere here, indescribable.”
Many of the fans who had sweltered on the edge of their seats as Muchova and Gauff went toe-to-toe were slow to return for the second semifinal.
Kostyuk, trying to become the first Ukrainian woman in the professional era to reach a Grand Slam final, struggled to fire herself up as the 21-year-old Noskova navigated her first major semifinal in calm fashion.
Only when Kostyuk blazed a forehand into the tramlines on the second match point did Noskova let her guard slip.
“I couldn’t really believe it. You always want to be in those moments. You always want to win these big matches. But when it actually happens, you don’t know how to react,” ninth seed Noskova said.
“I always realise any success… or a good tournament after it’s all done. Right now, I feel like I’m already focusing on the final.”
Gauff left to rue match point
Gauff had never flourished on Wimbledon’s lawns before this year, but after surviving several tough contests, looked set to make the final with Muchova struggling physically in the deciding set of an absorbing contest.
Her moment seemed to have arrived at 9-8 in the tiebreak as Muchova could only spoon back a serve. With the court at her mercy, Gauff had countless options but attempted a drop shot that finished in the bottom of the net.
“At the end of the day, that’s the choice I made. Was it the right one in that moment? Maybe not,” Gauff said later.
“I just panicked a little bit.”
Electrifying tiebreak
Muchova was among those who could scarcely believe the drama that was unfolding during an electrifying tiebreak where she had surged to a 4-1 lead, extended that to 6-3, before Gauff battled back to reach match point first.
Muchova then slipped at the net as Gauff saved one match point, but the Czech made no mistake at the second time of asking, running Gauff side to side before the American missed.
“In my head, I was thinking just like I have to keep hitting. I was telling myself if I’m going to lose this, I want to lose on my own terms,” said the former French Open finalist.
Furnace on Centre Court
No one would have guessed that Muchova is allergic to grass and requires “a lot of pills, sprays, eyedrops” just to step onto the most famous patch of turf in tennis.
While spectators struggled to stay cool in the furnace-like atmosphere on Centre Court, Muchova’s pick-and-mix variety of grasscourt craft shone brightly as she broke Gauff in the third and fifth games. A 111 mph ace sealed the set for Muchova and put her within touching distance of a first Wimbledon final.
However, no one can accuse Gauff of holding up the white flag when the going gets tough, and for the fifth round in succession, she was ready to go the distance.
Muchova played audacious tennis
After squandering her first eight break point opportunities, the American seventh seed finally got the breakthrough on her ninth to take a 3-1 lead before breaking again at 5-1 to send her mother into raptures in the player’s box.
After two one-sided sets, both protagonists displayed their incredible ball-striking ability in a captivating decider.
Gauff had two chances to break for a 5-4 lead , but once the 10th seed Muchova used her get-out-of-jail-free card to wriggle out of that spot of bother, there was no stopping her.
Despite holding her side at times, she played some audacious tennis in the tiebreak, including the dive volley and a topspin lob to earn her first match point.
While that one went begging, she was soon holding her arms aloft after a 2-hour, 35-minute spectacle.
“Obviously got super close,” Gauff said. “A match for sure to remember. It’s tough to digest. I left it all out there.”
Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele were on target as France surged past Morocco 2-0 to book their place in the World Cup semifinals on Thursday.
Mbappe curled in his eighth goal of the tournament on 60 minutes before Dembele doubled Les Bleus’ lead six minutes later to settle a clinical victory at the Gillette Stadium outside Boston.
The win sends the 2018 champions into a last-four showdown against either Spain or Belgium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday.
African champions Morocco had been tipped to pose a serious threat to France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final.
But Didier Deschamps’ men were always in control against a limited Morocco side who failed to register a single shot on goal until an 83rd-minute free kick by Azzedine Ounahi was parried away by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
France though struggled to find a breakthrough, and missed the opportunity to take the lead on 28 minutes when Mbappe saw a penalty saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Mbappe had won the penalty after being brought down by Noussair Mazraoui, but was forced to wait several minutes before being allowed to take the kick after a protracted VAR check.
Morocco managed to hold out to half-time, but it was always only a matter of time before France’s relentless pressure paid off.
The breakthrough came on the hour mark, with Mbappe bending a brilliant right-foot shot past Bounou from the edge of the area.
Paris Saint-Germain star Dembele made the game safe in the 66th minute, striding forward menacingly from midfield before steering a low finish into the bottom corner.
France now await the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal in Los Angeles between European champions Spain and Belgium.
Referee chief hits back
Spain, who have not conceded a single goal so far, eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the last 16 and will fancy their chances of overcoming Belgium, who thrashed the United States 4-1 to reach the last eight.
On the other side of the draw, holders Argentina face Switzerland in Kansas City on Saturday after staggering into the quarterfinals.
The South Americans, aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil in 1962, advanced to the quarterfinals after an incredible escape against Egypt in the previous round, recovering from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2.
The victory saw a string of refereeing decisions go in Argentina’s favor, prompting claims from Egypt coach Hossam Hassan that World Cup referees were unfairly backing the South Americans due to “external” pressure.
Those claims were shot down by FIFA referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina on Thursday.
“Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials,” Collina said. “Nobody can claim that FIFA Refereeing can be influenced by anyone…”
The winner of the Argentina-Switzerland clash will take on either Norway or England, who clash in Miami on Saturday.
England’s defense faces the unenviable task of having to contain Norway’s irrepressible striker Erling Haaland, who has been in blistering form on his team’s run to the last eight.
A relaxed Haaland said Thursday the pressure would be on England when the teams meet at the Hard Rock Stadium.
“I think there’s some clear favorites out there, England’s one of them,” Haaland told reporters.
“I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads.”
FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina has defended the officiating in Argentina’s 3-2 World Cup round-of-16 victory over Egypt, rejecting allegations of bias and insisting match officials carried out their duties with complete independence.
Speaking in an interview published Thursday on FIFA’s website, Collina acknowledged that refereeing decisions will always be debated but strongly criticized attacks on officials’ integrity after Egypt questioned the officiating following its defeat.
“Constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but unfounded allegations have no place in our sport,” Collina said.
“Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials. Nobody can claim that FIFA refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by the FIFA president (Gianni Infantino).”
Collina warned that baseless accusations against referees can have serious consequences, saying they risk fueling threats and abuse directed at officials and their families.
Egypt exited the tournament but claimed it had been treated unfairly after Argentina overturned a 2-0 deficit to snatch victory with a stoppage-time winner from Enzo Fernandez.
Coach Hossam Hassan alleged after the match that there may have been pressure on the referee to keep Argentina in the tournament. The Egyptian Football Association said “several key incidents raised serious concerns and left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game.”
Egypt argued that Mostafa Zico’s second-half strike was incorrectly ruled out for what it described as a nonexistent foul in the buildup. Egypt was also incensed that a challenge on Mohamed Salah was not penalized moments before Argentina launched the move that produced the winning goal.
Collina said VAR correctly recommended overturning Zico’s goal after identifying a foul by Marwan Attia on Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez during the attacking possession phase.
“We believe that a foul is a foul,” Collina said. “Regardless of whether the foul appears ‘obvious,’ if the referee did not see it on the field of play, the VAR can intervene.”
Collina also defended the decision not to award Egypt a penalty before Argentina’s winner, saying both the referee and VAR judged the contact between Salah and Julian Alvarez to be “normal football contact.”
“Stepping on an opponent’s foot is a foul, whereas a defender who touches the ball first and then makes normal football contact has not committed a foul,” he said.
While acknowledging that some decisions would always involve an element of subjectivity, Collina said FIFA was satisfied with how VAR principles had been applied throughout the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo built one of football’s greatest careers over more than two decades, deciding matches, inspiring teammates and defying age to remain among the sport’s elite long after his celebrated spells at Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus.
But the one trophy that always eluded him remained out of reach on Monday, as the 41-year-old saw his sixth and final World Cup end in heartbreak. Portugal was eliminated 1-0 by Spain in the round of 16, leaving Ronaldo in tears at the final whistle.
Portugal’s campaign came to a crushing end when Mikel Merino scored in the 91st minute to seal Spain’s victory in Arlington, one day after Ronaldo calmly confirmed that this tournament would be his last World Cup.
As he walked out of his final prematch news conference to applause from reporters on Sunday, Ronaldo said he had no regrets about a career that pushed the limits of excellence and endurance for more than two decades.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez praised Ronaldo’s commitment after the match, describing him as an icon of the sport.
“We will always be grateful for what he tried to do at this World Cup because the dream was to win the World Cup, and he led by an incredible example as captain,” Martinez said.
“This is not the moment to look beyond what we’re talking about: a football icon. There are not many Cristiano Ronaldos.”
27 matches, 11 goals
Ronaldo’s World Cup record includes 27 appearances and 11 goals. Fittingly, his only knockout-stage goal came last week to help Portugal eliminate Croatia, briefly keeping alive the dream that had accompanied him since his debut in 2006.
That first World Cup also produced his deepest run. At 21, Ronaldo was part of the Portugal team that reached the semifinals before losing to France.
In the quarterfinals, he calmly converted the decisive penalty in a shootout victory over England, a moment that still lives in Portuguese memory and seemed at the time to foreshadow greater triumphs. They never came.
For much of his international career, Ronaldo appeared to carry the weight of Portugal’s ambitions on his shoulders.
But the landscape changed as a new generation of talent emerged, and by this tournament, questions persisted over whether he should still be a guaranteed starter.
Against Spain, the veteran played the full 90 minutes and had three shots but was unable to make the decisive breakthrough.
Opponents paid tribute to one of the game’s greats, who against Spain produced what was arguably his finest World Cup performance in 2018, scoring a hat trick in a 3-3 group-stage draw that included a stunning free kick in the 88th minute.
“I’m a great admirer of him, of his values, of what he stands for, of how he approaches the sport, and I think he’s a role model for young people,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said after the game.
“Whenever we have the chance to be together, we acknowledge our mutual admiration and the pride we feel at knowing him.”
Messi rivalry
Ronaldo largely avoided questions throughout the tournament about comparisons with Lionel Messi. Still, as his World Cup story comes to an end, the contrast is difficult to ignore. Their rivalry defined an era but never fully extended to the World Cup stage.
Messi guided Argentina to the 2014 final before winning the title in 2022, while Ronaldo’s World Cup campaigns repeatedly ended in disappointment.
There was, however, the possibility of a World Cup meeting.
Had Portugal topped its group instead of finishing behind Colombia, and had both teams continued advancing, Ronaldo and Messi could have met in the quarterfinals.
“It would be top,” Ronaldo said of the potential showdown after scoring twice in Portugal’s 5-0 rout of Uzbekistan in the group stage, his best performance of the tournament in North America.
For a player who conquered nearly every other challenge the sport had to offer, that sense of what might have been will accompany Ronaldo’s World Cup farewell.
Spain’s bid for a second FIFA World Cup title faces another major test Friday when the reigning European champions meet a rejuvenated Belgium in a quarterfinal clash in Los Angeles, with a semifinal spots awaiting the winners.
Nearly 16 years after lifting their first World Cup trophy in South Africa, Spain is within three victories of reclaiming football’s biggest prize. Luis de la Fuente’s side has emerged as one of the tournament’s standout teams, combining defensive dominance with clinical performances to reinforce its status as one of the favorites.
La Roja topped Group H before comfortably eliminating Austria in the opening knockout round.
They then avenged last year’s UEFA Nations League final defeat to Portugal in the round of 16, with Mikel Merino scoring a dramatic late winner to seal one of the tournament’s biggest victories.
That triumph sent Spain into their sixth World Cup quarterfinal. After losing each of its first four appearances at this stage, Spain finally broke through by defeating Paraguay in 2010 before going on to win the country’s first World Cup.
Spain’s greatest strength has been their defense.
De la Fuente’s team is the only nation yet to concede a goal in the tournament and has now recorded a World Cup record six consecutive clean sheets, a streak spanning more than 10 hours of football.
That defensive solidity has become the foundation of a side that rarely gives opponents clear opportunities.
The coach’s record in knockout competition has been equally impressive.
Since taking charge, Spain have won all six of their major tournament knockout matches, further strengthening the belief that another deep World Cup run is within reach.
History also favors Spain heading into Friday’s encounter. La Roja have won nine of their last 11 meetings with Belgium since losing to the Red Devils at Euro 1980.
While the nations have split their two previous World Cup meetings, their last encounter came nearly a decade ago, making this another chapter in one of Europe’s most intriguing rivalries.
Belgium, meanwhile, arrive with renewed confidence after one of the tournament’s most impressive turnarounds.
The Red Devils finished atop Group G despite producing less than convincing performances, then survived a thrilling 3-2 victory over Senegal in the round of 32. Captain Youri Tielemans delivered the latest goal ever scored in World Cup history to avoid extra time and send Belgium into the last 16.
That momentum carried into an emphatic 4-1 victory over co-host the United States.
Facing mounting criticism, coach Rudi Garcia made the bold decision to leave Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and all-time leading scorer Romelu Lukaku on the bench.
The gamble paid off spectacularly as Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken added another, and Lukaku came off the bench to score for a third consecutive match as a substitute.
Belgium also brushed aside the intense pre-match controversy surrounding the Folarin Balogun red card situation, delivering its most complete performance of the tournament while maintaining an average of more than 2.5 goals per game.
Few expected such a revival.
Belgium’s group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup appeared to signal the end of its celebrated “golden generation,” but Garcia has overseen a remarkable resurgence. The Red Devils enter the quarterfinal unbeaten in their last 18 matches and dreaming of winning the nation’s first World Cup.
Belgium have reached the semifinals only once, in 1986, when they eliminated Spain in the quarterfinals before eventually finishing fourth.
Replicating that famous run would mark another milestone in the team’s resurgence.
Spain are expected to stick with the core lineup that has carried them through the tournament, though De la Fuente still faces several selection decisions.
Marcos Llorente, Fabian Ruiz and Portugal match-winner Merino are competing for starting roles in midfield, while Nico Williams is expected to begin on the bench as he continues to recover from an adductor injury.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is set to start on the right wing, while Mikel Oyarzabal leads the attack after producing 23 goal involvements across his last 17 starts for Spain.
Belgium also have key decisions to make.
De Ketelaere is expected to continue as a false nine despite Lukaku’s impressive scoring streak off the bench, while De Bruyne could return to the starting lineup after being rested against the United States.
Garcia must also reshape his midfield following the devastating ACL injury suffered by Amadou Onana, opening the door for Vanaken or Nicolas Raskin to earn a starting role.
At the back, Belgium are likely to remain unchanged, with Zeno Debast still unavailable after missing the entire tournament through injury.
Side to side. Corner to corner. Novak Djokovic kept pushing Felix Auger-Aliassime back and forth along the Centre Court baseline at Wimbledon to retrieve one shot after another.
Finally, on the 22nd shot of a grueling rally deep in a fifth-set super tiebreaker, Auger-Aliassime had a forehand in the middle of the court. Under normal circumstances it might have been just the shot he was looking for.
Not this time. Not after five hours of battling with the 39-year-old Djokovic.
Auger-Aliassime, a 25-year-old Canadian with one of the top-rated forehands on tour, had nothing left in his tank. He sprayed his forehand wide to give Djokovic a 9-4 lead. Then both players bent over in exhaustion and leaned on their rackets. Djokovic, while he was bent over, still found energy to encourage the crowd to cheer louder, waving his right arm for more noise.
One point later, the longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon history – at 5 hours and 15 minutes – was finished.
“These,” Djokovic said, “are the kind of moments that I still play tennis for.”
Djokovic, the seven-time Wimbledon champion, prevailed 7-6 (10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4) on Tuesday to set up a semifinal against defending champion Jannik Sinner .
“I’m still able to battle these young guys that have 15 years less than me,” Djokovic said. “I’m able to beat them at the tightest possible scoreline. … In a sense, it is really a nice surprise. But at the same time, I always have the highest expectations for myself.”
Djokovic continues to break records as he chases a 25th Grand Slam title. He’s reached a record-setting eighth consecutive Wimbledon final four – moving him one ahead of Roger Federer for most consecutive men’s singles semifinal appearances at the grass-court tournament.
“We know, because we’ve seen him so much, but it’s so impressive that he does it time and time again,” Auger-Aliassime said.
The match ended just before the All England Club’s 11 p.m. curfew took effect.
To celebrate, Djokovic raised his arms high and wide and took in the applause as he walked to the net to shake hands with Auger-Aliassime. Then Djokovic performed a little elbows-to-knees dance. He often mentions that his daughter, who was watching in the players’ box, tries to teach him moves.
Later, Djokovic was asked to compare himself with another 39-year-old still performing at the highest of levels: Lionel Messi of Argentina .
“It would be nice to play 90 minutes like him,” Djokovic said of the soccer great.
Sinner spent less than half the amount of time on court as Djokovic did when he beat Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5, 7-6 (4), 6-3 much earlier in the day on No. 1 Court.
Sinner beat Djokovic in straight sets in last year’s Wimbledon semifinals; and Djokovic outlasted the Italian over five sets in the last four of this year’s Australian Open .
“I wish it was finals, so I don’t need to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow,” Djokovic said. “I was telling the kids to go to sleep after the fourth (set) but they didn’t want to listen. I’m glad they stayed because it was honestly one of the best matches I was part of on this court in my career.”
Djokovic does get two days off before Friday’s semifinals.
Late in the first set, Djokovic dealt with what appeared to be a lower-leg issue. He took a medical time out and a trainer tested the stability of his left ankle and calf before massaging his calf muscle.
Djokovic had earlier leaned over to stretch his leg by pulling back the tip of his sneaker. He also stretched while standing at the back wall.
There was more stretching the rest of the way, too – especially late in the fifth set.
“It was really anybody’s game in the super tiebreak in the fifth,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic objected to the decision to close the Centre Court roof at 7:40 p.m. after Auger-Aliassime won the second set to level at a set apiece.
Djokovic told Wimbledon tournament referee Denise Parnell that they could squeeze in another set before the natural light faded.
“We can play a whole another set outdoors. We’re an outdoor tournament,” Djokovic said. “You remember the first round? You didn’t close it until like 8:20, 8:30 and now you want to close it at 7:40. Where’s the consistency?
“You’re so proud of your rules and you’re not sticking to any kind of rules,” Djokovic added.
Down a set after untimely double-faults, Coco Gauff rallied past Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the semifinals here for the first time.
The 22-year-old Gauff became the youngest player to reach the semifinals at all four Grand Slams since Maria Sharapova, who completed the feat at the 2007 French Open, the women’s professional tennis tour said.
Gauff will face 10th-seeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic for a spot in Saturday’s final. Muchova, the 2023 French Open runner-up, eliminated Naomi Osaka 7-6 (4), 6-4.
In Gauff’s six previous appearances at the All England Club, she had never advanced beyond the fourth round.
“After seven years playing this tournament it’s finally the first time I can walk on Centre Court and I didn’t feel nervous,” Gauff said.
The small coffeehouse in Cairo became a miniature stadium on Tuesday as hundreds of fans, mostly men and boys, some as young as 7, packed the venue and gathered around wall-mounted televisions awaiting kickoff.
The same scene unfolded across football-obsessed Egypt as the Pharaohs took on defending World Cup champion Argentina in a Round of 16 match in Atlanta.
Although Egypt’s remarkable run ended with a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Argentina, the day marked a historic milestone for millions of Egyptians who watched their national team reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time.
“It’s a brutal way to go out,” teacher Ahmed Saadany said after the match. “The journey shouldn’t have ended like that.”
Led by star forward Mohamed Salah, Egypt booked its place in the Round of 16 after defeating Australia 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in the Round of 32 on Friday.
The Pharaohs had already made history by advancing beyond the group stage for the first time, finishing second in Group G behind Belgium.
Preparations for the match began well before the 7 p.m. local kickoff. Rows of plastic and wooden chairs faced wall-mounted television screens as fans flocked to hundreds of thousands of coffeehouses and fan zones across Egypt.
In public squares and along major thoroughfares, vendors sold Egyptian flags, whistles and other fan paraphernalia ahead of the match.
Throughout the day, Egyptian flags fluttered from vehicles and balconies as debates on television and in public spaces, including coffeehouses and markets, centered on the national team’s performance and its matchup against Argentina.
“Overall, the performance was excellent,” said Hassan Shehata as he took his seat in a packed Cairo coffeehouse ahead of Tuesday’s match. “We’re developing. We play and compete.”
It was Egypt’s fourth World Cup appearance, with the most populous Arab nation and seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champion proving difficult to beat.
The 2026 tournament marked Egypt’s best-ever World Cup performance. The Pharaohs snapped their winless World Cup record with a 3-1 victory over New Zealand before advancing to the knockout stage for the first time.
“It was a dream,” said Rami Saeed, a 23-year-old university student. “Coach Hossam Hassan and his team exceeded our expectations.”
At a packed coffeehouse in Giza, many fans wrapped themselves in Egyptian flags or waved them while chanting “Masr, Masr, Masr!” the Arabic name for Egypt. Others beat drums.
The coffeehouse erupted when Egypt scored and when goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy saved Lionel Messi’s penalty kick. It fell silent as Argentina scored its goals.
Fans were disappointed by Tuesday’s loss but took pride in the team’s historic performance.
“It’s injustice,” said Haitham Raafat, a 13-year-old boy who burst into tears after the final whistle. “The referee wasn’t fair.”
President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi praised the team’s “unprecedented accomplishment in the history of Egyptian football.”
“Thank you to the heroes of the national football team,” he wrote in a social media post. “We are proud of you and your achievement.”
Shaban Youssef, a 45-year-old mechanical engineer, said he was also proud of the team.
“They held our heads high, especially Hossam Hassan’s support for the Palestinian people,” he said.
Hassan, Egypt’s head coach, used the World Cup stage to express support for the Palestinian people during an impassioned monologue at a pregame news conference.
Asked about draping a Palestinian flag around his shoulders after Egypt’s victory over Australia in the previous round, Hassan responded with a speech that lasted more than four minutes and drew applause from reporters.
“If there is anyone in the world who does not feel for the Palestinian people, then they are not human, whether they are Arab, European or American,” he said.
Hassan’s comments were widely praised by Egyptians, many of whom took to social media to express support for both the coach and the Palestinians.
“Whatever the result,” prominent novelist Ezzat el-Kamhawi wrote in a Facebook post ahead of Tuesday’s match. “Our team plays tonight, and the championship is already in their pocket, thanks to Hossam Hassan’s goal against Zionism.”
During Egypt’s World Cup matches, hundreds of war-weary Palestinians gathered around television screens in makeshift shelters across the war-torn Gaza Strip to cheer on the Pharaohs. They chanted, clapped and waved Egyptian flags as patriotic Egyptian songs played in the background.
“It’s a duty to support Egypt,” Soliman Salem, a young Palestinian man, said in a phone interview from his shelter in Gaza after Tuesday’s match. “We’re very sad, but proud of the Egyptians.”
Abdel-Rahman Baroud, another Gaza resident, said they had hoped Egypt would advance to the next round, but “luck wasn’t on their side in the second half.”
“We all return home disappointed,” he said.
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