The Qatar World Cup will feature the world’s very best footballers. It’ll be a month-long bonanza in which the best players fight to lift the big gold trophy on December 18.
While the World Cup will feature most of the best footballers, there are some world-class players that will be missing the tournament.
Not all the very best have been able to guide their countries to qualify for the major competition.
Some footballers were unsuccessful in helping their team qualify for the World Cup. One of those major players that couldn’t qualify for the competition is Liverpool winger Mo Salah.
The Egyptian winger tried his best to help Egypt qualify for the competition but ended up losing its spot to Senegal. That means Salah will have to sit out the World Cup and be allowed to enjoy some free time during the World Cup break.
With the World Cup quickly approaching, the teams that have not been able to qualify – like Egpyt – have kept themselves busy by playing a few international games. This includes friendly matches against the teams that will be competing in the World Cup.
As a result of this, Egypt was able to play Belgium in an international game before the start of the competition.
Belgium played only a few of their key first-team players, with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois getting some game-time.
Egypt won the game after what was an average friendly game, in which neither team really competed at their highest level.
The most memorable moment from the game actually took place after full-time. Hazard was able to meet his former Chelsea teammate Mo Salah and it’s clear that the two still love each other.
While it might be difficult to remember, Salah did spend a few years at Stamford Bridge.
He joined them in 2014, playing a few years for them before being sold. While he got little playing time at the time, it appears that the Egyptian winger became close friends with Hazard.
It’s been almost seven years since the two played together at Chelsea, but that has not deterred their bromance at all. The two met for the first time on the pitch since Real Madrid’s win over Liverpool in the Champions League final in May.
Fortunately, there was no dismay for either player after this friendly game.
Salah took some time to pose for a picture with the Belgium winger as well as Thibaut Courtois, who frustrated him in the Champions League final last season.
But Mo was more intent on hanging out with Hazard than anyone else on the pitch. The two were spotted embracing each other and even joking around.
The two ex-Chelsea players seem to be really comfortable around each other and have a real bromance that they were able to build upon after the game.
Their lovely bromance is something which must excite Belgium fans too, as a happy and confident Hazard can be a thorn in the side of any team.
He might’ve seen his last few seasons wasted due to injury, but the Real Madrid star can prove his ability by helping his national team defy the odds and go all the way in the World Cup.