Egypt boss barred players from saying Messi's name

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan says he would not let his players mention Lionel Messi before their World Cup last-16 tie with Argentina.

Hassan said he referred to Messi only as “the number 10” in camp, as part of an attempt to strip away any sense of fear ahead of the 3-2 defeat that ended Egypt's tournament.

The Egypt boss said he wanted his side to focus on the match rather than the reputation of the opponent, adding that he believed his team had the personality to go deep into the competition. He said he had spent two and a half years trying to build a side that could impose its own style against any rival and offer more than one route to goal.

Hassan also said he was unhappy with some of the refereeing in the game, claiming certain decisions disrupted his players' concentration. Egypt protested over a disallowed goal and a penalty appeal before Argentina scored their third.

Despite the exit, Hassan said the result did not take away from what his team had done at the tournament.