Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan Drops Messi's Name to Ease Player Anxiety

Coach Hossam Hassan explained before the World Cup clash with Argentina that he will not mention Messi’s name, treating it as a tactical decision. He said the aim is to prevent his players from feeling excessive respect or fear of the Argentine star.

The approach seeks to avoid a repeat of Egypt’s previous collapse, where a 3‑2 lead was surrendered in the final minutes. Hassan argues the tactic offers both tactical and psychological benefits for the squad.