Egypt's Laptop Trick Before Penalties? How Mohamed Salah Used Mat Ryan's Weakness to Reach World Cup History

Egypt turned Australia's surprise goalkeeper substitution against them by studying Mat Ryan's penalty tendencies on a laptop moments before the shootout, with Mohamed Salah's Panenka highlighting a remarkable piece of World Cup preparation.

Australia thought they had gained a psychological edge before their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 penalty shootout against Egypt.

Instead, Egypt responded with a tactical masterstroke of their own.

After Australia replaced starting goalkeeper Patrick Beach with veteran Mat Ryan specifically for penalties, Egypt's players and coaching staff were spotted huddled around a laptop on the pitch, analysing Ryan's previous penalty saves-and failures.

The footage quickly went viral across social media after Egypt converted all five spot-kicks to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in the nation's history.

Australia copied Van Gaal's famous 2014 move

With penalties looming, Australia coach Tony Popovic made a bold call by substituting Beach for the vastly more experienced Ryan, echoing Louis van Gaal's famous decision to bring on Tim Krul during the Netherlands' shootout victory over Costa Rica at the 2014 World Cup.

The move was designed to give Australia an advantage.

Instead, it prompted an equally innovative response from Egypt.

Egypt studied Mbappe's penalty against Ryan

Television cameras captured Egypt's players and staff gathered around a laptop during the break before penalties.

According to reports, they were watching footage of Kylian Mbappe converting a penalty against Ryan during his time at Levante in Spain.

The objective was simple: identify Ryan's habits before stepping up.

The analysis reportedly suggested Ryan had a tendency to commit early by diving before the ball was struck.

Salah's Panenka reflected the scouting

Armed with that information, Mohamed Salah confidently attempted-and converted-a Panenka.

Rather than blasting the ball into a corner, the Egypt captain delicately chipped it straight down the middle as Ryan committed to one side.

Salah's celebration suggested complete confidence in the plan, while the rest of Egypt's penalty takers also kept their composure, converting every spot-kick.

Ryan failed to save a single penalty despite being introduced specifically for the shootout.

Fine margins decide another World Cup classic

What was intended as Australia's psychological advantage instead became one of the tournament's most memorable tactical moments.

The laptop session lasted only a matter of seconds, but it appeared to provide Egypt's players with valuable confidence before one of the biggest shootouts in the country's football history.

After the match, Egypt completed a famous victory to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 1934, when the tournament itself featured only 16 teams.

While Australia's late goalkeeper switch grabbed headlines before the penalties, it was Egypt's rapid analysis and preparation that ultimately stole the spotlight.