Goalkeepers can play a massive role at the FIFA World Cup.
Egypt, which is hoping for its first-ever World Cup victory, is hoping they made the right call in goal on Monday for their match against Belgium. Mostafa Shobeir gets the start.
It wasn’t a given he’d the call over Mohamed El Shenawy, but it was Shobeir’s name on the team sheet.
He’ll have a tall task going up against a talented attacking group from Belgium, and if he starts to make some big saves, he’ll quickly become a known name in the international footballing world.
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Who is Egypt’s goalie?
Egypt begins the World Cup by starting Mostafa Shobeir in goal.
Shobeir is 26 years old and was born in Giza.
He plays his club football for Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly, which played in the United States last summer as part of the Club World Cup.
Shobeir has played in eight matches for Egypt in his career entering this World Cup.
Mostafa Shobeir’s dad
Shobeir is a second-generation Egyptian goalkeeper.
His father, Ahmed, also stood between the posts for the Pharaohs.
Ahmed went on to be the vice president of the Egyptian Football Association.
As a player, Ahmed played his whole career for Al Ahly, and he had 107 appearances for the Egyptian national team.
Ahmed was also involved in the controversial 0-0 draw with Ireland in the 1990 World Cup, in which there was not yet a back pass rule, allowing the game to turn into a farce with the Egyptians passing the ball back to him over and over.
