World Cup 2018: A comprehensive look at Group A

Egypt

Forgotten in the midst of Salah's hype are 10 players who work just as hard

A year ago, not many would have cared about this time, but the arrival of Mohamed Salah has changed things all of a sudden.

Egypt have been one of the most talked about teams on the planet thanks to Salah, but guess what? There have to be 10 thankless souls around him if this has to work. Egypt have quite a good pool of players to make that possible.

Egypt qualified as the winners of their respective Asian qualifier group, with Salah scoring 5 goals in the last stage and scoring the winner against Congo that ensured that they would qualify to the finals as the winner of their group.

Coach: Hector Cuper

The former Valencia and Internazionale manager was handed control of the side in March 2015, and it has all been glory after glory for the Pharoahs. After guiding them to the final of the AFCON in 2017, he has led them to their first World Cup in 30 years.

Considering all this, one would assume that Cuper is considered as a cult hero in Egypt. Surprisingly not.

Cuper is one of the most defensive coaches in the world and that is no exaggeration. He plays a type of football that might make even Mourinho shrug. Notorious for being fond of beautiful football, it is only natural that the nation of Egypt hates him.

Despite getting the qualification, there were calls to boot him out and bring in a new coach with a flair for the extravagant. Sane heads prevailed though, as the FA decided that results were much more important.

Egypt's squad for the World Cup

Their entire tactics consists of playing with 10 men behind the ball and hoofing the ball up-field for Salah to do whatever he pleases with it. While it has been successful so far, the continued success remains a concern.

Their defense, however, is well organized. At the centre of it is West Brom's Hegazi who has had a wonderful season in the PL despite West Brom getting relegated. Also useful as an option in set-pieces, he will be vital for Egypt. Once Egypt gets a lead, there is absolutely no way they will be coming forward, and that's where Hegazi earns his money.

A major concern for Egypt might be their over-dependence on Salah. They have no clear forward capable of sharing the duties along with him, and Cuper prefers to play a solid No.9 at the front.

Koka is the one most expected to start, but he has been far from impressive with the national team. The best possible way for Egypt is to use Salah to drag the defenders away, and hope that one of their forwards comes good. But the chances of that happening aren't very good.

Player to watch out for: Mohamed Salah

A lot will depend on how soon Salah can get back to full fitness

Well, it is impossible to ignore the elephant in the room. The man who put Egypt in the footballing maps has one more job to do this season, and that will be to guide his country past the group stages.

After Ramos' tackle on him that ensured that he will never again in his life be granted a VISA to Egypt, the entire nation is praying for Salah's speedy recovery. The Egyptian FA has assured fans that Salah will be fit by the time and at the worst will only miss one game in the group stage, it might be the difference between leaving after 3 games and getting one more.

A fully-fit Salah adds a whole new dimension to the team, and to the group in general. Egypt with him is more capable of springing a surprise than Egypt without him.