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Men CULTURE May 28, 2018

‘I’m a Fighter’: Mohamed Salah is Confident He’ll Play in the World Cup

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Photo: Getty

Fans’ spirits may have been crushed when he was injured over the weekend, but “fighter” Mohamed Salah has vowed he will try to make it to Russia. The Liverpool forward, who suffered a shoulder injury during the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Kiev on Saturday, has promised his followers he is optimistic he will play in next month’s World Cup. The Egyptian footballer took to Twitter on Sunday, telling his 5.9 million followers: “I’m a fighter.”

“Despite the odds, I’m confident that I’ll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need,” the 25-year-old added. Salah is due to play in Egypt’s national football team, The Pharaohs, for the tournament, which will be Egypt’s first World Cup game in 28 years. The national hero was initially ruled out of competing following his mid-match collision with Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos over the weekend.

At the 31-minute mark of the highly anticipated Champion’s League game, Salah was escorted off the ground in tears, due to a shoulder injury. Real Madrid went on to take home the prestigious European Cup with a 3-1 victory.

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool reacts whilst leaving the pitch injured during the UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool on May 26, 2018 in Kiev, Ukraine. Getty

The injury was a devastating blow to Liverpool and Egypt fans. Not only was it Liverpool’s first time competing in the Champions League final since 2007, but Salah was scheduled to make his World Cup debut for the Egyptian national team in June. Speaking to the press after the game, Liverpool’s coach Jurgen Klopp said: “It’s a serious injury, a really serious injury. He is in the hospital for an X-ray. It’s either the collarbone or the shoulder itself. It doesn’t look good, that’s it.” He added: “We lost a very important player, like probably Egypt lost for the World Cup a very important player. I still hope it’s not like this.”

However, team Egypt remained hopeful that Salah would participate in the World Cup next month. The Egyptian FA took to their Twitter account to say that Salah’s X-ray showed he had a “sprain in the shoulder ligaments”, and that it was “optimistic” he would be fit for the tournament in Russia.

Egypt is scheduled to play a warm-up match against against Colombia on June 1 before facing Belgium on June 6. The North African country’s first official Group A game is on June 15 against Uruguay, before matches against Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Salah, who scored 44 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this season, is a national hero. The footballer is the object of a number of songs sung by Liverpool fans —  including the infamous “If he’s good enough for me/ he’s good enough for you”. Dubbed the “Egyptian King”, despondent fans all over the world took to social media to express their support for the Liverpool forward.

Here’s wishing Salah a speedy recovery.

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