After a record-breaking season for Liverpool, Egypt forward Mohamed Salah was expected to shine at the World Cup.
But, after missing the Pharaohs’ first game through injury and appearing to lack match sharpness in the second, his hopes of making a major impact in Russia are over.
While Egypt have one game left – against also-eliminated Saudi Arabia on Monday – 26-year-old Salah will leave Russia considering what might have been.
Here are a few of the reasons he’ll be sorely missed in Russia.
When Salah tangled with Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos during the Champions League final in May and had to go off with an injured shoulder, Liverpool’s prospects of winning that competition all but ended.
In Egypt – a nation of 80 million – football fans held their breath, knowing only too well the forward’s importance to their team.
Salah had a hand in seven of the eight goals that took the Pharaohs through qualifying, scoring five and assisting two, as they reached the World Cup for the first time since 1990.
Without him in Russia their threat was dramatically diminished, as shown by a toothless 1-0 defeat by Uruguay and during a 3-1 loss to the hosts, in which a less-than-fit Salah did score a late penalty.
“One thing to wonder, with the chances he had against Russia, is how many would a fit Salah have put away?” said former Scotland winger Pat Nevin on BBC Radio 5 live. “That would hurt for Egypt to think about.”
