The 45-year-old Essam El-Hadary is technically already the oldest player in the World Cup history. However, his record will be more valid if he actually plays in Russia - and so far, he has not.

In the matches against Uruguay and Russia, Egypt’s coach Hector Cuper left El-Hadary on the bench, preferring the 29-year-old Mohamed El-Shennawy, who had played just three games for the national team before the World Cup.

But as it looks now, after two defeats the North African team hardly have a chance to progress from the group - so nothing will stop Cuper from giving a chance to El-Hadary in the last group game against Saudi Arabia, so that the goalkeeper could set a new World Cup record.

Now the record belongs to another goalkeeper, Colombian Farid Mondragon, who played at the 2014 World Cup at the age of 43.

El-Hadary, who is Egypt’s captain, apologised to the team’s fans for poor performance in the two opening matches.