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World Cup Fantasy

Egypt Fantasy Picks: Salah Survives To Face Argentina

4 July 2026

In this guide we cover how Egypt beat Australia on penalties, why Salah is still the fantasy name to watch, and what Argentina v Egypt means for R16 transfers, captains and chip calls.

Egypt 1-1 Australia: Egypt Win 4-2 On Penalties

  • Egypt went ahead early through Emam Ashour
  • Australia levelled when Mohamed Hany turned the ball into his own net
  • The match finished 1-1 after extra time
  • Egypt scored all four penalties in the shootout
  • Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the decisive penalty
  • Mohamed Salah started despite his injury concern and scored in the shootout
  • Egypt are through to face Argentina in R16
  • Australia are out, so all Australia fantasy picks should leave R16 squads

Egypt are alive. It was not pretty, it was not calm, but knockout football does not care. Emam Ashour gave Egypt the perfect start, Australia dragged the game back through a Mohamed Hany own goal, then Egypt held their nerve from the spot.

For fantasy, the big story is simple: Egypt have a nightmare R16 tie against Argentina, but Salah (10.0) is still Salah. He is the one Egyptian player who can break a difficult match on penalties, set pieces or one big transition moment.

Team Stats

Egypt v Australia match stats
EgyptAustralia
42Possession %58
0.84Expected goals1.32
0.84Non-penalty xG1.32
0.07xG on target1.14
16Total shots14
1Shots on target3
34Touches in opposition box30
0Big chances3
0Big chances missed2
80Accurate passes %85
4Corners7
0Yellow cards2

Australia had the cleaner chances. Three big chances, the better xG on target and more corners tells you Egypt had to suffer. Egypt's shot count looks fine at 16, but only one was on target, so this was more about survival, set plays and penalty nerve than attacking control.

That matters for R16. Egypt are not a team to stack against Argentina. Their defensive players are cheap, but this is not a friendly Shield spot. The fantasy case is Salah, and even he is more of a brave upside pick than a safe captain.

Expected Goals: Egypt v Australia

Expected goals: Egypt v Australia
EgyptAustralia
0.31xG open play0.96
0.53xG set play0.36
6Shots off target5
1Shots on target3
9Blocked shots6
11Shots inside box8
5Shots outside box6

Player Stats

Key fantasy players
PlayerTeamPriceMatch readFantasy verdict
Mohamed SalahEgypt10.0Started, carried Egypt's star threat and scored in the shootoutStill Egypt's only premium fantasy route, but Argentina make him a high-risk R16 pick.
Emam AshourEgypt4.6Scored the opener and gave Egypt their best fantasy returnCheap and live, but the Argentina fixture keeps his ceiling lower than the elite midfielders.
Hossam AbdelmaguidEgypt3.6Scored the winning penalty and showed huge nerveGreat story, but defenders against Argentina are not where the safe points are.
Mostafa ShobeirEgypt3.5Egypt survived pressure and reached the shootoutCheap goalkeeper, but Argentina's attack makes him a save-volume punt rather than a clean-sheet pick.
Mohamed HanyEgypt3.6Own goal brought Australia levelAvoid for R16 unless you are desperate for price. The matchup is brutal.
Jackson IrvineAustralia-Scored in the shootout and battled through midfieldAustralia are eliminated.
Aziz BehichAustralia-Australia created enough to win the tieAustralia are eliminated.

Demon Notes

  • Egypt showed knockout nerve, but Argentina are a major step up.
  • Salah (10.0) is the only Egyptian attacker you can seriously talk yourself into for R16.
  • Emam Ashour (4.6) is the budget name after scoring, but do not chase him over stronger confirmed fixtures unless you need the money.
  • Egypt defenders are cheap, but cheap is not enough against Messi and Argentina.
  • Australia players should be removed from R16 plans now.

What It Means For Argentina v Egypt

Argentina v Egypt is a brilliant fantasy split. Argentina bring the control, the better route, the stronger projections and the cleaner captain options. Egypt bring Salah and tournament emotion.

If you are playing sensible R16 fantasy, Argentina should be the side you prioritise. If you are chasing rank, Salah (10.0) is the chaos pick, but the price is heavy when Argentina players project better.

Best Players To Pick From Argentina v Egypt

Best fantasy targets from Argentina v Egypt
NamePriceExpected pointsOpponent
Lionel Messi10.08.9Egypt
Lautaro Martinez8.86.5Egypt
Lisandro Martinez4.66.5Egypt
Alexis Mac Allister6.66.4Egypt
Cristian Romero4.96.0Egypt
Emiliano Martinez5.05.8Egypt
Mohamed Salah10.04.9Argentina
  • Messi (10.0) is the standout R16 name from this fixture and sits well clear of Salah on expected points.
  • Lautaro Martinez (8.8) is a strong forward route if you want Argentina attack but cannot stretch elsewhere.
  • Lisandro Martinez (4.6), Cristian Romero (4.9) and Emiliano Martinez (5.0) are the safer Argentina defensive reads.
  • Salah (10.0) is still capable of a moment, but his price needs a return against one of the best sides left.

Want the latest numbers before locking transfers? Visit our World Cup Fantasy projected points model for regular updates and use it to compare Messi, Salah and the Argentina defenders before the R16 deadline.

Egypt 1-1 Australia Fantasy Notes: Salah, Emam Ashour And Argentina R16 | FPL Demon