Iran's bench leapt off their seats.
The ball was in the net.
They were through.
Then the screen flickered. VAR. Offside.
And just like that — a World Cup dream hung by a thread.
Over in Vancouver, Belgium dismantled New Zealand 5-1.
Kevin De Bruyne pulled every string.
Leandro Trossard bagged a brace.
Lukaku and Saelemaekers piled on late.
It wasn't a match. It was a statement.
Peter Bosz's side topped Group G and looked every bit like dark-horse favourites.
Egypt vs Iran was a heart-attack in 90 minutes.
The beats, in order:
Third in Group G.
3 points. Goal difference: zero.
Currently 6th in the third-place rankings — and only the top 8 of those go through to the Round of 32.
Which means Team Melli now do the worst thing in football:
Sit on a couch. Watch other groups. Pray.
Egypt qualified as runners-up. Beautiful.
But on the hour mark, Mohamed Salah clutched his left hamstring and walked off.
Ice pack on. Face like thunder.
This is the same hamstring that wrecked the end of his Liverpool season.
The same injury Egypt have been nursing for months.
For a nation waiting 92 years for a World Cup knockout breakthrough — this is the news no one wanted.
One match told two completely different stories.
👉 Belgium look unstoppable.
👉 Egypt are through but holding their breath over their talisman.
👉 Iran played the better football and may still go home.
Football doesn't care about who deserved it.
It only cares about the final whistle.
And tonight, in Seattle, the whistle was cruel.
That's all for now!
