'I suddenly found myself at a World Cup': Egypt hero Zico reflects on surreal call-up

[p][b]"I was far ‌away from the national team and honestly wasn't expecting it," [/b]the Pyramids ‌FC forward told reporters after scoring one goal ‌and setting up another in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt's[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/egypt-bejDn7NN/new-zealand-rLctHkpU/?mid=QeaikheU"]3-1 World Cup win[/a] ‌over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/rLctHkpU/"]New Zealand[/a] on Sunday.[/p][p][b]"Coach Hossam Hassan brought ‌me from the north coast. I was about to go on vacation and suddenly I found myself at the World Cup."[/b][/p][p]A ‌fringe player before the tournament, Zico ⁠is quickly emerging as ‌one of Egypt's standout performers.[/p][p]Named after Brazilian great Zico, he is ​part of a long tradition in Egyptian football of players adopting the names of international ​stars.[/p][p]The versatile attacker, who can operate on either wing or as a centre forward, has repaid the coach's ⁠faith with a ​string of influential displays.[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="713ca130-a851-4e9d-8731-32f22c4b3b03" credit-line="StatsPerform via Opta" guid="88309282-9651-481a-91a3-79c59b0d86e3" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]He scored in pre-World Cup friendlies against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/russia/hrgrswHh/"]Russia[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a] before opening his World Cup account against New Zealand in Vancouver, where he also set ‌up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salah-mohamed/08FBycgB/"]Mohamed Salah[/a]'s goal with a clever back-heel pass inside the penalty area.[/p][p]Egypt's victory over New Zealand was the country's first at a World Cup and put them in a commanding position in Group G heading into their final match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iran/xrRx85iA/"]Iran[/a] as they chase a place in the knockout phase for the first time.[/p][p][b]"From the first minute until now, Hossam Hassan has ‌given us confidence,[/b]" said Zico.[b] "Thank God I haven't let ​him down for a single second."[/b][/p][p]Despite Egypt's strong start, ‌the players were not getting carried away, he added.[/p][p][b]"We still haven't achieved anything yet. Hopefully we can go even further,"[/b] he said.[/p][p]"We are the strongest team in Africa. Why shouldn't we go as ⁠far as possible in ⁠this tournament?"[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]