Egypt national team manager Hossam Hassan has expressed full confidence in his players' abilities ahead of the anticipated clash against New Zealand at the 2026 World Cup, acknowledging the opponent's strength and standout players — led by Chris Wood — while stressing that the Pharaohs have a leader of Mohamed Salah's stature on their side, as the team seeks Egypt's first-ever World Cup victory.
Hossam Hassan denied the existence of any crisis within the Egypt camp, insisting at the pre-match press conference that all talk of a dispute with Mohamed Salah is nothing more than rumours, and pointing out that the Pharaohs' captain plays a vital role both on and off the pitch.
"Salah helps his teammates stay disciplined, and everything being said about a crisis between us is just rumours," the Egypt coach said, adding that all players are treated with equal importance and that selection criteria are based solely on technical considerations.
Hossam Hassan praised Salah's performance during the 1-1 draw with Belgium in the first round of the group stage, noting that he deployed him in a position Salah himself chose for the benefit of the team, before substituting him in the 76th minute.
The Pharaohs' coach spoke about the New Zealand fixture, confirming that the Egyptian squad had studied their opponents thoroughly by following numerous official and friendly matches, noting that the team is distinguished by physical strength, tactical discipline, and a style close to European football.
"We respect New Zealand greatly and we know the capabilities of their professional players in Europe. They have Chris Wood, for whom we have great respect — but we have Mohamed Salah," Hossam Hassan said.
Egypt's technical director affirmed that the New Zealand match will be pivotal in the team's World Cup campaign, noting that the draw against Belgium was a positive result and came as no surprise to the coaching staff.
"My approach to the game since taking charge of the national team has been based on achieving a balance between defence and attack," he added, explaining that the players' condition on the pitch will be an important factor in deciding the outcome of the match.
Hossam Hassan indicated that the team is focusing on each match individually, away from other calculations, stressing that the goal is to bring joy to Egyptian fans, reach the round of 32, and achieve Egypt's first-ever victory in a World Cup finals.
The coach praised the role of the Egyptian fans, affirming that their support was a factor behind the strong showing against Belgium, and that the players feel the value of their presence and backing.
Hossam Hassan concluded by reaffirming that his mission since taking charge of the national team has not been easy, given the work involved in rejuvenating the squad and raising its level, pointing to reaching the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals as one of the most significant results of this period.