Egypt vs Iran

This could be the match that decides who joins Belgium in the knockout stage — or it could be an academic exercise, depending on earlier results. Either way, Egypt and Iran share sparse competitive history, confined to a handful of friendlies across the years, but the footballing cultures these nations represent have intriguing parallels. Both are regional heavyweights who have historically underachieved at World Cups relative to their domestic dominance. Tactically, the contrast is sharp.

Iran play with structure and discipline — a coaching-driven approach that maximises limited resources through tactical rigidity and counter-attacking precision. Egypt's identity is more individualistic: Salah's genius, Elneny's control, and moments of improvisation that cannot be coached. That makes this matchup volatile.

Iran will try to make the game small — low tempo, compressed space, physical midfield battles where Elneny and Ahmad Fathy must wrestle with Saeid Ezatolahi and Alireza Jahanbakhsh's runs from deep. Egypt will seek to stretch the pitch and create one-on-one situations where Salah can decide the match alone. Both defences are vulnerable to pace — Marmoush against Iran's high line, Taremi against Egypt's occasionally sluggish centre-backs — and both goalkeepers can produce heroics or howlers in equal measure.

In a tournament where group-stage goal difference matters, neither side can afford passive caution.