We want to put smiles on Egyptians' faces, el-Hadary

CAIRO – 14 December : Egypt goalkeeper, Essam el-Hadary knows that the national team have a big role to play in raising the image of Egypt in the world and in making the Egyptians happy.

“We’re a strong unit, and not just on the pitch: we’re one family with one objective, which is to raise the profile of Egypt and Egyptian football. We want to do it and put a smile on the faces of tens of millions of people," el-Hadary who led Egypt to qualify to 2018 World Cup told FIFA official website.

El-Hadary wore the national team shirt for the first time in 1996 and has since been the first choice goalkeeper, el-Hadary won four African Cup of Nations titles with the national team in 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010.

El-Hadary trusts the Egyptian national team’s ability to be the underdog in the World Cup, “At a World Cup, there are no weak teams, we have many examples of teams that were seen as ordinary but then defeated big-name sides.”

The World Cup draw put Egypt in Group A alongside Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and the host nation, Russia. El-Hadary spoke about the group saying, “We know the strength of our rivals in the group. Russia, as the host nation supported by legions of fans, will be doing everything to qualify. Uruguay are a vastly experienced South American team with top notch strikers like [Luis] Suarez and [Edinson] Cavani. As for Saudi Arabia, our encounter will certainly be wonderful. In all-Arab matches, you cannot say one side is a stronger favorite than the other."

El-Hadary, 44 hopes to be the Egypt national team manager in the future, and is will be the oldest player ever to appear in the World Cup.