Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan insisted that his side's growing stature on the world stage is the product of deliberate, sustained effort after the Pharaohs opened their FIFA World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Belgium on Monday.

Going toe-to-toe with one of the tournament's favourites, Egypt carved out multiple chances before and after Belgium's equaliser, delivering a performance that Hassan described as entirely consistent with the team's recent trajectory.

No coincidence, says Hassan

"Thanks be to God for this positive result against a major team and one of the favourites to win the World Cup," Hassan said. "Before the game, everyone expected Belgium to win. That is normal when you are facing a team of this quality. But what Egypt has achieved is not by chance. The progress of this team over the last two years has come through hard work from the technical staff, the players, and everyone involved with the national team."

Hassan was emphatic that the result reflected structure and identity rather than fortune. "We do not play by chance. We play with a clear identity and a clear structure. Egypt today is a modern team that does not depend on one player, but on a collective of players who understand their roles and responsibilities."

Egypt the better side in the closing stages

Despite settling for a point, Hassan believed his team deserved all three. "We made adjustments during the game to gain more control in midfield and I believe that worked well," he said. "In the latter stages, we pushed Belgium back into their own half and created the better opportunities. Even after they equalised, we continued to create chances and, in my opinion, we were closer to winning the match."

Hassan singled out Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush for special praise, crediting the pair with driving Egypt's attacking transitions. "Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, and the rest of the players performed exceptionally well. They gave us an advantage in transition and helped us create dangerous situations throughout the game."

Focus shifts to New Zealand

With one point secured, Hassan wasted no time redirecting his squad's attention to their next Group G fixture. Egypt face New Zealand on Monday, 22 June at 01h00 GMT, and the coach made clear his side will not allow an encouraging start to breed complacency.