An added incentive for both squads today will be the chance to become the first group of players to earn their country a win at a World Cup.
Before this tournament, New Zealand had appeared at only two World Cups. In 1982, they exited the competition at the group stage after losing all three matches to Scotland, the Soviet Union and Brazil.
They had to wait another 28 years for their next World Cup campaign and, in 2010, they performed well above expectations — going unbeaten and drawing their three group games against Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay. But despite that achievement, New Zealand were still went out of the competition at the first hurdle.
New Zealand’s 2-2 draw with Iran last week means they have not lost in their past four World Cup matches across two tournaments, but that first victory remains elusive.
Meanwhile, 92 years after their first World Cup appearance in 1934, Egypt still have not won at the tournament. Their previous stint in the competition, eight years ago in Russia, was a disaster as they crashed out in the group stage after losing to the hosts, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
Egypt have won the Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times, underlining their status as one of their continent’s most successful forces, but their dismal World Cup history is something the current players will be desperate to address.
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