Shobeir Reveals How He Read Messi Before Denying His World Cup Penalty

Speaking to Egyptian broadcaster MBC Masr, Shobeir said Argentina's quality made the first half especially difficult, and that the manner of Egypt's eventual 3-2 loss still weighs on the squad. On the penalty itself, he said he had studied Messi's technique beforehand and noticed a change in his usual run-up before the kick was taken. He added that he deliberately avoided eye contact with Messi to stay focused rather than get drawn into a psychological battle.

Shobeir said Egypt had entered the match with genuine belief after results in the group stage against Belgium, New Zealand and Iran, and argued that midfielder Hamdy Fathy should have won a penalty during the game. He also described breaking down in the dressing room after the final whistle, saying he avoids crying in front of others but that the closeness of the elimination was difficult to process.

The save on Messi stood as one of the defining moments of Egypt's World Cup run, even as the Pharaohs went out in dramatic fashion.