United News of Bangladesh

Thousands of football fans gathered at El-Alamein Airport on Friday to welcome home Egypt's national team after its memorable World Cup campaign ended with a 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the knockout stage. Supporters waved pictures of captain Mohamed Salah, carried banners praising the team and cheered as the players returned from the tournament. Egypt reached the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in the country's history after defeating Australia 4-2 in a penalty shootout, with Salah playing a key role in the victory. The squad is scheduled to meet President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Saturday. Earlier this week, the president thanked the team in a Facebook post for what he described as its "honourable performance" and for achieving a historic milestone in Egyptian football. The team's World Cup run had united fans across the country, with people gathering in homes, cafés and public squares to watch Tuesday's match against Argentina. Egyptian flags were displayed from balconies, shops and streets as supporters rallied behind the team. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has raised concerns over the officiating in the match, saying it was dissatisfied with several refereeing decisions, including those involving the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan and several players also criticised the referees after Argentina scored three unanswered goals in 13 minutes to complete one of the biggest comeback victories in World Cup history. In a statement, the EFA said protecting the rights and interests of the national team "cannot be ignored or treated as a secondary issue." Responding to the criticism, FIFA's head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, said debate over refereeing decisions is a normal part of football but rejected what he called "unfounded allegations" against match officials. He stressed that no one should question the integrity of FIFA World Cup referees, warning that such accusations can lead to threats against officials and their families.