Egyptian FA quells Mohamed Salah retirement talk

The Egyptian Football Association has moved to play down talk that Mohamed Salah is contemplating bringing an end to his international career with Egypt after the World Cup.

Speculation in the Liverpool forward's homeland suggested that Monday afternoon's dead rubber against Saudi Arabia at the Volgograd Arena would be his last for the Pharaohs.

Salah's relationship with his national side's governing body has been left strained due to a sponsorship row, and the 26-year-old is also reportedly upset after being criticised for meeting with Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

The EFA insists that a retirement call is not imminent, however, with a statement reading: "We were always informed by Salah when he takes any decisions. We spend the whole day together and he has never discussed this issue with any of the delegation's members."

Salah missed Egypt's opening World Cup game against Uruguay with a shoulder injury, but was fit to play 90 minutes against Russia last time out.