Salah's Old Patterns Could Prove His Undoing Against Argentina

Messi has been the tournament's standout performer, scoring seven goals in four matches as Argentina bid to become the first team in 64 years to defend their World Cup crown. Yet even the reigning champions exposed defensive vulnerabilities against Cape Verde, according to Sky Sports, vulnerabilities a world-class attacker would relish exploiting.

That should favour Salah. He has shown composure at this tournament—converting a panenka in the Australia shoot-out—and made history by becoming Egypt's first captain to win a knockout game at the World Cup. But his tournament has exposed an old problem.

Opponents know how to deal with Salah. Teams isolate him, marshalling him so effectively that he barely touches the ball in key moments—he was practically anonymous against Australia despite his historical penalty. It's a pattern repeated across his major tournament record: two goals in 11 finals appearances, none from open play.

The core issue is positioning. Messi creates space by dropping deeper and linking play from central areas, keeping defences guessing. Salah typically anchors himself as the focal point on the right flank, according to Sky Sports analysis, making him easier to suffocate when opponents are defending for their lives.

Against Argentina's creaky backline, Egypt have a genuine chance. But only if Salah abandons his predictable role and becomes the playmaker Messi has proven a defender must become.