Mohamed Salah and Sergio Ramos could be reunited as soon as next month should the Liverpool forward recover from injury in time to play at the World Cup.

The Egyptian Football Federation are confident that Salah's injury - the product of a tussle with Ramos - is only going to keep him out for three-to-four weeks and that timescale would see him likely miss just the Pharoahs' opening group game against Group A favourites Uruguay.

But should he return for matches against Saudi Arabia and hosts Russia then there is reason to believe Egypt could qualify in second place for the last 16, putting them on collision course with Spain and Egyptian public enemy number 1, Sergio Ramos.

Spain are the favourites in Group B, where they've been drawn with Portugal, Morocco and Iran in one of the more intriguing foursomes. And despite being paired with European Champions Portugal, there is confidence that La Roja will be back to their best after the debacle of 2014 and should compete for honours in Russia.

Should Spain top their group then they will face the runner-up from Group A, where Egypt are likely to battle Russia - officially the lowest-ranked hosts of any World Cup in history - and Saudi Arabia, who haven't won a World Cup game in nearly a quarter of a century, since their best-ever World Cup showing at USA 1994.

It means a Ramos-Salah reunion on July 1st and Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium is a highly-probably knockout game, and one that won't be short of interest given the events of Kiev.

Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Show all 12 1 /12 Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final

Nearly half a million people have signed an online petition calling for Fifa and Uefa to punish Sergio Ramos for “intentionally hurting Mohamed Salah” in Saturday night's Champions League final.

A petition on change.org to see the Madrid captain banned for the challenge has more than 460,000 signatures.

“Sergio Ramos intentionally kept Mohamed Salah’s arm under his armpit, causing dislocation of his shoulder,” claims the petition. “Not only missing the rest of the game, but also missing the Fifa World Cup 2018.

Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Show all 37 1 /37 Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final The Champions League trophy Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final The opening ceremony to the final Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Dua Lipa during her performance before kick-off Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Andriy Shevchenko unveils the Champions League trophy Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Dua Lipa during her performance before kick-off Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final The two teams line up ahead of kick-off Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final An injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks on from the sidelines Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Liverpool's starting XI Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Real Madrid's starting XI Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Liverpool fans get into the swing of things Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Trent Alexander-Arnold is put under pressure from Marcelo Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after missing a chance Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Karim Benzema celebrates his goal before it was disallowed for offside Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Mohamed Salah leaves the pitch in tears due to injury Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Dani Carvajal leaves the pitch in tears due to injury Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Keylor Navas tangles with Liverpool's forward men Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Georginio Wijnaldum attempts to bring the ball under control Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Isco gets away from Trent Alexander-Arnold Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Marcelo clashes with Dejan Lovren Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Roberto Firmino attempts to shield the ball Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Karim Benzema pounced as Loris Karius released the ball to put Real ahead Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Karim Benzema celebrates his goal Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Sadio Mane drew Liverpool level from close quarters Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Sadio Mane celebrates his equaliser Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Luka Modric winds up for a shot on goal Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Gareth Bale scored one of the greatest goals in a European final to put Real back in front Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Gareth Bale celebrates his stunning volley Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final A second Loris Karius mistake handed Real their third goal of the evening Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Real Madrid celebrate their third goal Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final A fan who ran onto the pitch is tackled by staff as Ronaldo takes a shot on goal Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Liverpool's players look on after defeat Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Loris Karius asks for forgiveness from Liverpool's fans after the final whistle Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Jordan Henderson reacts after defeat Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Gareth Bale celebrates victory after the final whistle Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Real Madrid are crowned champions of Europe for the third year in a row Getty

“In addition he kept acting that Liverpool players fouled him falsely, causing the referee to give Mane a yellow card he did not deserve.

“Sergio Ramos represents an awful example to future generations of football players. Instead of winning matches fairly, he uses tricks that defy the spirit of the game and fair play.

“Uefa and Fifa should take measures against Ramos and similar players, using the video recordings of matches to keep the spirit of the game.”

Read more coverage on the Champions League final:

However, plenty of fans and pundits have jumped to Ramos’s defence. Frank Lampard said on BT Sport at half-time: “He’s got close, like any defender should do and sometimes when you get that contact you do interlink arms and it’s more unfortunate in the end, the way he fell.”

Ramos was pictured laughing with an assistant referee as Salah was led away holding his arm but Rio Ferdinand said: “”I wouldn’t associate the two things. I think it was really good defending from Ramos and I don’t think he meant to do that [hurt Salah].”