Italy international Stephan El Shaarawy has pledged to support Egypt at the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.
Following Italy’s failure to qualify for the quadrennial event for the first time in 60 years, the 25-year-old talisman is ready to support his father’s land in Russia later in June.
Hector Cuper’s men progressed to the 2018 World Cup for the first time in 28 years after edging Ghana, Congo and Uganda to finish at the top of their group in the African qualifying series.
And El Shaarawy who was born to an Egyptian father and Swiss-Italian mother in Savona, is ready to cheer the north African country, paired alongside hosts Russia, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in Group A, at the global showpiece.
“At the World Cup, I’ll support Egypt,” El Shaarawy told LaRoma24.it.
Egypt will be aiming for the first win in the World Cup when they begin their campaign against Uruguay on June 15 at the Central Stadium in Yekaterinburg.