Egypt reach World Cup last 16 in shootout as Australia’s goalkeeper gamble backfires

Hossam Abdelmaguid puffed out his cheeks, steadied himself, began his run up with exaggerated slowness, checked and then sent Mat Ryan the wrong way. He ran off to the corner, ripping off his shirt, and was soon joined by an ecstatic posse of Egyptian players. Don’t worry about the scrappy, largely formless game from which their joy stemmed. For the first time since 1934 when there were only 16 teams, Egypt are in the last 16 of the World Cup. At some level, football is always about the outcome; the process is just a footnote. Continue reading...