Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt delivered a disciplined and tactically assured performance to secure a 0–0 draw against Spain in an international friendly held as part of both teams’ preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match, played at Espanyol’s home stadium, offered a strong indication of Egypt’s growing competitiveness against top European opposition.
From the opening whistle, Egypt showed intent with an aggressive high press that unsettled Spain’s build-up play. While Spain enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and controlled the midfield, they struggled to translate that dominance into clear-cut chances during the first half. Egypt, meanwhile, looked dangerous on the break and nearly took the lead midway through the half when Omar Marmoush unleashed a powerful strike that rattled the crossbar, denying the visitors a deserved advantage.
Spain continued to dictate tempo after the break, pushing Egypt deeper into their own half. However, the North African side remained compact and organized, relying on quick transitions to threaten on the counterattack. The standout performer of the second half was goalkeeper Mostafa Shobier, who produced a series of crucial saves to deny Spain’s forwards and preserve the clean sheet.
Despite Spain’s sustained pressure, Egypt’s defensive resilience held firm until the final whistle, earning them a morale-boosting result against one of Europe’s elite teams. The draw is likely to be viewed as a positive step in Egypt’s World Cup preparations, highlighting both their defensive solidity and ability to compete at a high level.
Egypt lineup:
Mostafa Shobier; Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Hamdy Fathy, Ahmed Fattouh; Marwan Attia, Mohanad Lasheen, Emam Ashour; Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Islam Issa, Omar Marmoush.
Spain lineup:
David Raya; Alejandro Grimaldo, Cristhian Mosquera, Dean Huijsen, Pedro Porro; Carlos Soler, Pablo Fornals, Dani Olmo; Bryan Gil, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal.
