The exit of the Egyptian national team from the World Cup was not a fleeting event, but rather a moment when emotions mixed among the fans, who felt a sense of disappointment at losing the dream of reaching the quarter-finals, alongside celebration of the honorable performance delivered by the 'Pharaohs' on the biggest global football stage.

Egypt bid farewell to the World Cup in the Round of 16 after losing 2-3 to Argentina, despite leading by two goals until the 78th minute of the match.

The 'dramatic' exit scenario left Egyptian fans disappointed, as hopes were pinned on achieving a historic feat beyond the Round of 16. This feeling was deepened by the refereeing decisions during the match and the VAR technology, which became a focus of criticism in global media and social media platforms.

Nevertheless, Egyptian fans expressed a sense of pride and honor in what the players delivered, who did not hold back in showing fighting spirit during the matches.

On an official level, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly praised his country's national team during the weekly cabinet meeting, saying: 'We are proud of you... and we thank you all for the joy and happiness you brought to Egyptians, Arabs, Africans, and various countries around the world.'

For its part, the Egyptian Football Association extended its greetings to the technical, administrative, and medical staff as well as the players of the national team, 'who delivered an honorable performance and reflected the spirit and determination of Egyptian football, and were the best ambassadors for Egypt on the biggest global football stage.'

The association added in a statement on Wednesday: 'Despite the end of the team's journey in the tournament, the pride in what our players accomplished will remain, as they showed commitment and fighting spirit that earned everyone's respect, and presented an honorable image of Egyptian football.'

The statement clarified that 'what has been achieved in this tournament represents an important step in the development of Egyptian football, and that the next phase will see continued work, in cooperation with state institutions, to implement a comprehensive national project to develop football, expand the base of practice, discover talents, and build new generations that continue to raise Egypt's name in continental and international forums.'

Meanwhile, circulated video clips showed Egyptian fans in the United States celebrating the performance of the national team players despite the exit, welcoming them with chants and songs in front of their residence, which social media users interacted with.

Another segment of the public expressed their rejection of this honorable participation being merely an exception, but rather a rule, considering that qualifying for the World Cup or reaching advanced stages is no longer a wish, but has become the normal state for Egypt.

Celebration of the team's performance continued through numerous calls demanding the renewal of coach Hossam Hassan's contract to lead the 'Pharaohs' until the 2030 World Cup.

Egypt's national team bid farewell to the World Cup in the Round of 16 after losing 2-3 to Argentina (Egyptian Football Association)

Many considered that the image presented by the team represents an important step in the development of Egyptian football, and that it should be the foundation for what is to come.

In this context, others interacted with the statement of the Egyptian Football Association, noting that the achievement places a double responsibility on the association, and that the public expects real actions to develop Egyptian football.

Sports critic Ayman Hureidi said that 'the Egyptian fans' praise of the national team's performance in the World Cup, especially in its thrilling match against Argentina, stems from a development in fan awareness that saw a positive change in performance and a professional mindset on the pitch, after the (Pharaohs) bid farewell to the concept of honorable representation, and their presence in major tournaments now represents strength and competitiveness for all, with proof being the epic they delivered against Argentina's players in the presence of their leader Messi.'

He added to Asharq Al-Awsat: 'The technical development of the Egyptian national team and its reflection on the fans, who described the national team players as heroes, confirms that confidence has returned to the fans in their country's team, which makes them expect more achievements in the coming years.'

For his part, sports critic Ahmed Khairy believes that the Egyptian national team has brought fans back around it again, after a period of frustration due to successive failures, both technical and administrative, so it was natural for fans' feelings to mix between sadness and pride.

He said to Asharq Al-Awsat: 'I believe this variation in reactions reflects a degree of football maturity among Egyptian fans. Evaluating the team is no longer tied only to the final result, but there is now appreciation for performance, development, and the magnitude of the achievement compared to previous circumstances and ambitions. This is a positive indicator of the development of football awareness among a large segment of fans.'

Regarding the Egyptian Football Association's statement about expanding the base of practice and building new generations, Khairy points out that the real measure of these statements will be the practical steps the association takes. He continued: 'If the association is truly serious about implementing a national project to develop Egyptian football, it must start by turning the success achieved by the national team in the World Cup into a clear action plan, including developing the youth sector, training coaches, and improving the talent discovery system in various governorates.'

He continued: 'If the football association succeeds in investing the current public momentum to launch a real and sustainable project to develop the game, it will have turned the moral achievement into a strategic gain for the future. But if things stop at the level of statements, the optimism will quickly dissipate, and fans will return to the cycle of frustration they experienced in past years.'

It is worth noting that the Egyptian Football Association affirmed in its statement 'its full commitment to defending the rights of the Pharaohs national team after the refereeing injustice it faced against Argentina,' stressing its keenness to take all procedures permitted by regulations to preserve fairness and integrity of competition.