Live updates: Argentina vs Egypt
Quick Look
- Egypt took a surprising 2-0 lead against Argentina with goals from Ziko and Hassan, but Argentina fought back with a header from Cristian Romero and a late equalizer from Lionel Messi.
- A stunning goal by Egypt was disallowed by VAR.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Live updates from a football match between Argentina and Egypt, detailing key events, goals, and player actions as they happen.
Live updates: Argentina vs Egypt
By Simon Smale
89' CHANCE ARGENTINA!
By Simon Smale
Lionel Messi whips the ball into the penalty area and it's hammered clear by Egypt.
Had to be defended really well there, a terribly tough ball to defend, whipped in with such pace.
84' MESSI SCORES!
By Simon Smale
OF COURSE HE DOES!
A POWERFUL DRIVE FROM LIONEL MESSI AND EGYPT ARE REELING!
The pressure was relentless.
He delivered the ball into the penalty area, Argentina keeps it alive and it falls back to Messi, who launches the ball into the top corner from just inside the penalty area.
Brilliant goal.
82' BRILLIANT FROM MESSI!
By Simon Smale
Oh that a run from Messi!
He makes his way into the penalty area at a pace that makes everyone else look like they are standing still, his little legs pumping at an almost un-natural rate in his standard way.
He crosses to but Enzo Fernández can't score!
79' ARGENTINA GETS ONE BACK!
By Simon Smale
It is a monster header from Cristian Romero, the centre back, who gets up and heads the ball in from close range from a Messi cross.
It's a brilliantly timed run, he was just onside.
A brilliant header.
77' Chance Egypt
By Simon Smale
Trézéguet has an effort from a desperately acute angle when he had Ziko in the box.
Poor option from the substitute.
76' Chance Argentina
By Simon Smale
It's just not happening at the moment.
A brilliant ball to the byline, a brilliant pass from the byline across the penalty area.
It's hammered away by Egypt, but it's offside anyway.
74' Subs all round
By Simon Smale
Haissem Hassan has run his race, he's come off, Trézéguet comes on for him.
Argentina have made two changes as well.
A last roll of the dice for the holders, perhaps.
71' TV time out
By Simon Smale
The holders have an awful lot of work to do now.
A big team talk required during this very unnecessary hydration break.
67' NOW EGYPT HAS ITS SECOND!
By Simon Smale
THEY WON'T TAKE THIS OFF THEM!
A lovely run from Mo Salah up the middle, pushing forward while waiting for support.
He passes to Haissem Hassan, who gets to the byline and crosses to Ziko who powers into the back of the net!
EGYPT LEADS 2-0!
66' Double sub for Argentina
By Simon Smale
Nicolás Tagliafico and Rodrigo De Paul are off.
Nicolás González and Lautaro Martínez are on.
Meanwhile Argentina has a corner.
61' Free kick Argentina
By Simon Smale
It's whipped in to the near post and, moments after going 2-0 up, or at least thinking they were 2-0 up, Egypt were close to being pegged back to 1-1.
Instead it's great defence and it's turned away.
58' Egypt has stunner ruled out by VAR
By Simon Smale
WHAT A GOAL! EGYPT DOUBLES ITS LEAD!
Haissem Hassan made one of the all time great runs up the right side.
He beat two Argentines for pace and then took off on a 70-metre run.
He passed to Mohamed Salah, whose pass to Mostafa Ziko was absolutely perfect, matched only by the finish.
But oh no, hang on a minute.
Lisandro Martínez might have been fouled by Hassan.
He's just caught Martínez's foot. That's so harsh.
It's the right call, I think, the referee has got it spot on, but it's desperately harsh on Egypt, who have been robbed of a moment that will surely have echoed through World Cup history.
The greatest goal that never was.
57' Good chance Argentina
By Simon Smale
Lovely delivery from the left side, but Mostafa Shobeir watches it all the way, comes off his line and dives to catch it and stop any chance of Argentina getting a shot away.
55' Messi wins a free kick
By Simon Smale
Hamdy Fathy just comes across and fouls Messi.
Free kick 20 metres out on the right side.
It's not whipped in but square and Egypt won't mind that, setting up their block and getting the ball away - eventually.
52' Salah fumes after giving away a freekick
By Simon Smale
That looked soft - but it was a massive moment as Salah looked to break away from 30 metres inside his own half.
He is ruled to have fouled Leandro Paredes. I can see why it was given.
Argentina were all forward and, despite being 70 metres from goal, he could have been on there.
Egypt are putting a flat back five inside their penalty area, with at least three men just in front of them to make eight in the penalty area at all times it seems.
It's working, at the moment.
49' Messi misses out
By Simon Smale
Messi is forced wide by Egypt's defenders and can't get a shot away - goal kick.
Argentina is having a lot of possession in these opening stages, but it seems like there's always an extra defender on hand for the Pharaohs - it's going to take a lion-hearted effort to keep Argentina out, but at the moment, Egypt are holding firm.
47' Shot Argentina
By Simon Smale
Rodrigo De Paul's placed shot is comfortably saved.
Nice movement from Argentina around the penalty area.
The shot was a bit of an anticlimax.
46' Sub for Egypt
By Simon Smale
We're back underway.
It is Emam Ashour who can't continue, that's a blow for Egypt.
Hamdy Fathy comes on in his place.
Open Questions
- What was the final score?
- What were the implications of the VAR decision?