For a decade, Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah waged war in the Premier League. Now they meet under Seattle’s lights, and the stakes feel just as high — maybe higher.
Belgium and Egypt open Group G on Monday in what could be the last World Cup appearance for both aging superstars. De Bruyne, 35, and Salah, 34, have already packed their trophy cases with league titles, golden boots, and Champions League medals. What they don’t have — and desperately want — is a deep World Cup run.
“I played against Mo for 10 years,” De Bruyne said ahead of the match. “Our kids also went to the same school. So, I saw him from time to time. And he’s a really nice guy. So it will be nice to see him. It will be nice to compete again like old times.”
That rivalry defined an era of English football. Liverpool vs. Man City became a heavyweight bout every season, with Salah and De Bruyne often deciding the outcome. Now they trade club jerseys for national colors, each carrying a country that has underperformed on this stage.
Belgium’s Selection Headaches Go Beyond De Bruyne
Manager Rudi Garcia has few questions in attack and midfield, but the back line is a puzzle he’s still solving. At center-back, Argentina’s Brandon Mechele and Sporting CP’s Nathan Ngoy started the 5-0 warm-up thrashing of Tunisia last week. Arthur Theate is also in the mix. The more intriguing choice is at left-back, where Garcia may stick with Timothy Castagne over the attack-minded Maxim De Cuyper.
Up front, Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere is expected to lead the line ahead of Romelu Lukaku, who made just five Serie A appearances last season after a campaign wrecked by injury. Garcia has not confirmed whether Lukaku is fit enough to start, but sources close to the squad suggest he’ll be used off the bench if needed.
Zeno Debast made the World Cup squad but is still nursing a thigh injury and isn’t expected to feature early in the tournament.
Thibaut Courtois, back from his long international exile, starts in goal. The midfield engine is an all-Aston Villa combination of Amadou Onana and captain Youri Tielemans, supporting an attacking three of Leandro Trossard, De Bruyne, and Jeremy Doku — who quickly shook off a fitness scare last week.
Egypt Finally Has the Depth to Match Salah
Egypt enters a fourth World Cup still searching for its first win in the tournament. That drought could end Monday, thanks to a supporting cast that finally looks capable of sharing the load with Mohamed Salah.
Salah is fully recovered from a hamstring injury that bothered him late in his final Liverpool season. And alongside him is Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, whose 17 Premier League goals last season made him one of Europe’s most dangerous attackers.
“It’s not just Mo anymore,” one former Egyptian international told fans online after the draw. “Marmoush gives them another dimension.”
Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir may start ahead of veteran Mohamed El Shenawy. The back line is likely to feature Hamdy Fathy and Yasser Ibrahim in central defense, though coach Hossam Hassan could switch to a back five depending on how the game unfolds.
Marwan Attia and Emam Ashour are expected to anchor midfield, with Mohanad Lasheen joining them if Fathy drops into defense. Out wide, Trezeguet, Zizo, and Mostafa Ziko are competing for spots in the front line.
Egypt has no known injuries — a rare luxury at a World Cup.
Predicted Belgium XI: Courtois; Meunier, Ngoy, Mechele, Castagne; Onana, Tielemans; Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku; De Ketelaere
Predicted Egypt XI: Shobeir; Hany, Ibrahim, Fathy, Fatouh; Lasheen, Attia, Ashour; Trezeguet, Salah, Marmoush
Whoever wins Monday takes a giant step toward the knockout rounds. For De Bruyne and Salah, it might be the last chance to write that final chapter together.
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