Egypt plays their first game of the World Cup in Russia on 15 June against Uruguay in Yekaterinburg. Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah says he is “confident” of playing in the World Cup after suffering a shoulder injury in the Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid. The Reds’ 44-goal top scorer was forced off midway through the first half of Saturday’s Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid due to the problem sustained in a tangle with Sergio Ramos.
The 25-year-old, who has scored 44 goals in 52 appearances this season, now faces a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup, which gets underway on June 14.
Salah tweeted on Sunday that he remained “confident” of being available for Egypt’s World Cup campaign in Russia, and on Monday evening it was confirmed he will head to Spain for a crucial shoulder surgery ahead of World Cup
The Egyptian federation said Salah began his rehabilitation program on Sunday and was in “high spirits” and “determined to return quickly to the ranks of the team”.
Salah’s X-ray showed he had a “sprain in the shoulder ligaments” and that it was “optimistic” he would be fit for Russia. According to an EFA statement, Salah will be accompanied by Liverpool’s medical staff “for the duration of the treatment period”, having “started his rehabilitation on Sunday
Amid the physical concerns surrounding Salah’s treatment, an Egyptian lawyer has filed a lawsuit against Ramos, seeking compensation “for the physical and psychological harm that Ramos gave Salah and the Egyptian people.”
The lawyer told an Egyptian TV station, “Ramos intentionally injured Mo Salah and should be punished for his actions.”
The lawyer is seeking €1 billion (£873 million) billion in compensation after the injury sparked fears that the Egyptian talisman would be ruled out of the World Cup.