Egypt Stuns Argentina 2-0 in Thrilling World Cup Encounter

Live updates: Argentina vs Egypt

By Simon Smale

71' TV time out

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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!

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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

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Nicolás Tagliafico and Rodrigo De Paul are off.

Nicolás González and Lautaro Martínez are on.

Meanwhile Argentina has a corner.

61' Free kick Argentina

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

It's not been a good World Cup for penalty takers

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HT: Argentina a goal down

By Simon Smale

The holders may not have expected this.

Argentina have had plenty of the ball but have been whacked in the face by the World Cup gods here, trailing 1-0 after an electric start from Egypt.

It took Argentina a while to get going, struggling to contain Egypt's right side attack in the opening exchanges.

Now the holders have a lot of work to do to keep themselves in this tournament.

They are more than still in it though, with Mostafa Shobeir making two brilliant saves, including from a Messi penalty.

45+5' Egypt defence solid

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Argentina looked set to pounce there, Lionel Messi popping up on the ball, giving and going.

The Egypian defenders have eight men in the box though and are moving very well to close out the spaces.

Just a small concern there though as Emam Ashour appears to motion to the bench that he needs to be replaced.

45+3' Karim Hafez is down

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He jumps up to claim a header and falls hard on his back.

He might need a moment.

45+2' Brilliant intercept by Karim Hafez

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Lionel Messi could have been in there, the ball lofted towards him in the penalty area, where you'd expect him to control the ball and fire towards goal.

However, Karim Hafez is there in time and he gets something onto the ball to deflect it up and away from Messi to his keeper.

Huge intervention.

45+1' Five additional minutes at the end of the first half

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Egyptian fans in the stands are losing it

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Wow, Messi, where art thou in that moment? Egypt fans gotta be happy as.

- Big Ben