Salah to play against Saudis in both sides’ final game

Egypt has included Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah in their squad to start Monday’s Group A game against Saudi Arabia, the final match of the tournament for the two already-eliminated teams.

Salah’s presence had been the subject of speculation following media reports the talismanic player was on the verge of quitting international football after unwittingly becoming a publicity pawn for the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov.

The Egyptian Football Association denied reports earlier in the day about Salah, who has been recovering from a shoulder injury.

Egypt also gave 45 year-old keeper Essam El-Hadary a chance to become the oldest ever player to appear at a World Cup.

Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia lost their first two games and will be hoping to pocket an elusive win in Volgograd to avoid finishing bottom of the group.