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Egypt hold Spain to a draw while Saudi Arabia fall to Serbia

The Egypt national team held hosts Spain, the European champions, to a goalless draw in the friendly match held at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, as both sides continue their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Egypt secured this notable result despite finishing the match with ten men after Hamdy Fathy was sent off in the 84th minute for receiving a second yellow card. However, an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir and the defensive solidity ensured their clean sheet remained intact.

The Egyptians entered the match in high spirits following their emphatic 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, concluding the international break on a positive note despite the absence of their captain Mohamed Salah due to injury.

The Pharaohs relied on the same lineup that faced Saudi Arabia, with one change as Mohanad Lasheen replaced Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet.” Lasheen nearly opened the scoring early on when he attempted to capitalize on an error from Spanish goalkeeper David Raya, who managed to recover in time.

Although Spain dominated possession for large spells of the game, clear-cut chances were limited, while Egypt came close to taking the lead through Omar Marmoush, whose powerful strike hit the post—marking the most dangerous moment of the first half.

Spain attempted to threaten Egypt’s goal through Dani Olmo and Alejandro Grimaldo, but the Egyptian defense stood firm at key moments.

At the start of the second half, the Spanish coach made several changes to boost attacking effectiveness, introducing Pedri, Rodri, and Fermín López, which increased the pressure on Egypt’s defense. However, Shobeir continued his excellent performance, denying every dangerous attempt and giving his team confidence while frustrating the hosts.

In the closing stages, Spain pushed forward in search of a winner, but Fathy’s dismissal made things even more difficult for Egypt, who resorted to a compact defensive approach until the final whistle, as the match ended goalless—highlighting their resilience and tactical discipline.

Egypt will continue their World Cup preparations with a high-profile friendly against Brazil in Cleveland this June, while also aiming to arrange an additional friendly before travelling to the United States, where they will compete in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran. Spain, meanwhile, will begin the tournament in a group featuring Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, and Cape Verde.

As part of their preparations, Saudi Arabia suffered a second consecutive friendly defeat, losing 2-1 away to Serbia.

Despite taking an early lead through Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Serbia turned the game around in the second half thanks to goals from Strahinja Pavlović and Aleksandar Mitrović, increasing the pressure on head coach Hervé Renard ahead of the World Cup, especially with Al-Akhdar facing tough challenges in a strong group, as mentioned above.

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