ST PETERSBURG – Russia’s scrutiny of Mohamed Salah has known no limits over the past 48 hours.
The Sport Express paper yesterday devoted substantial space to an image of the Egyptian putting on a training top last Friday, concluding that it had taken three teammates to help him do so and that he is not as ready to face the hosts as his manager Hector Cuper would like the world to believe.
The long-range Russian camera lenses also captured a game of handball the Egyptians undertook before training a week ago.
Salah participated and caught the ball with his left hand, suggesting the World Cup’s most discussed shoulder may be serviceable. But the Russians who witnessed the game insist Salah was ‘aloof’ and did not participate fully - giving encouragement as the hosts seek the win here against Egypt which would be their ticket to the knockout stage.
Suspicious about Cuper’s claim that Salah, who was rested for the opening game against Uruguay will play, Russian reporters have pursued the opposition team’s general manager Ihab Leheta. He gave a less emphatic answer about the man in question. “We cannot answer this question now. But Salah is OK,” he said.
The host nation’s manager Stanislav Cherchesov insists all will be well, even if Salah does play. “We are studying Egypt and we should be able to exploit their weaknesses,” Cherchesov said yesterday. “I have a simple answer: We are ready to stop Salah and we will do this.”
A man looks at a mosaic of a Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah in downtown Kazan, Russia. Photo: Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA
It is hard to overstate how utterly transformed the national mood has been since the delirium of the 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia five days ago.
Pessimism prevailed beforehand, yet everyone wants a flavour of the tournament amid the early buoyancy. The National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine is screening the World Cup, despite the fact that the host nation has annexed Crimea, which was governed from Kiev. And the Tass news agency has reported that an otter from Sochi Zoo, Harry’ predicted last week’s opening win by selecting a ball with a Russian flag draped across it.
“Harry is very patriotic,” said the zoo’s deputy director, Jeanne Sasina.
The otter in question has backed up his bold first call by indicating that Egypt will be beaten, too, although it has not passed without attention that a piglet, Boris, suggests the game might be drawn.
That would also probably be fine for the Russians since their goal difference is overwhelming. The hosts look and sound like a group reborn by their win in Moscow.
“Nothing should stand between us and beautiful football,” said veteran goalkeeper and captain, Igor Akinfeev. “A good mood brings good results. We’re joking with each other. We are a little bit more relaxed.”
Salah took part in Egypt's training session on Monday. Photo: Tolga Bozoglu/EPA
Cherchesov stretched the bounds of credibility when he claimed that he would like Salah to play.
“God willing, he’ll be fit and entertain the fans. He’s the kind of player who lights up games and tournaments like this,” he said.
But he is in a very small Russian minority. Some media here are predicting that Salah will play from the start tonight, yet will try to avoid direct physical challenges with opponents.
“Of course, even in this condition, the top scorer of England”s last championship is extremely dangerous,” one Russian paper warned its readers.