Here’s a look at Group A, featuring two-time World Cup winner Uruguay, host Russia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia:
EGYPT
Mohamed Salah has the ability to light up any team, particularly Egypt. The Liverpool striker has been in superb form this season, but playing at the World Cup will be a new experience for him — if he fully recovers from a shoulder injury.
Egypt qualified for the tournament for the first time in 28 years, and its chances in Group A against host Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay mainly rest on the 25-year-old Salah.
Salah was injured in the Champions League final against Real Madrid last month and his absence was obvious in Egypt’s three final warmups: Draws with modest Kuwait and Colombia, and a 3-0 loss to Belgium.
Here’s a closer look at the Egypt team:
COACH: Hector Cuper took over in 2015 after a dismal run under former United States coach Bob Bradley. Not only did the Argentine lead the team to the 2017 African Cup of Nations, but they reached the final before losing to Cameroon. The World Cup exile then ended with a game to spare in qualifying. Doubts persist over whether Cuper has done enough to improve a squad that is notorious for losing the ball, squandering chances in front of goal and aerial weaknesses.
GOALKEEPERS: At 45, Essam el-Hadary could become the oldest player to compete at a World Cup. Russia may be his last stop in an illustrious career spanning three decades and that took him to clubs in Switzerland, Sudan and Saudi Arabia, where he plays for Al-Taawoun. Despite his vast international experience, El-Hadary must guard against some of the lapses of concentration and poor decision-making that surfaced in recent years.
DEFENDERS: Ahmed Hegazy has been growing in confidence and the West Bromwich Albion center-back is Cuper’s obvious choice in that position. Playing alongside him will likely be Ali Jabr, Ahmed Fathi and Mohamed Abdel-Shafi. Egypt’s defenders proved their worth against Colombia, when they gallantly endured wave after wave of attacks by the South Americans. However, lapses of concentration and wrong judgment calls allowed the Belgians to punish them with three goals that could have possibly been denied. It will be intriguing to see how they try and stop Uruguay’s attacking duo of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.
MIDFIELDERS: There is good news here with Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny’s return from an ankle injury sustained in a Premier League game to put in a commanding performance in the Belgium match. Salah’s former teammate in Basel, Switzerland, Elneny will be joined in the midfield by Tarek Hamed. Both will play behind playmaker Abdalla Said, who positions himself closer to the forward trio.
Which @MoSalah fits your mood? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/HJ2Q9oSG31
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 12, 2018
FORWARDS: With 44 goals to his name this season in all competitions, there can be no real substitute for Salah if he is not fit to play against Uruguay. Not one from among the squad’s other forwards comes anywhere near the marksmanship, speed and agility of Egypt’s talisman. In Salah’s absence, Cuper will most likely field a forward trio of Marwan Mohsen in the middle with Mahmoud Hassan, better known by his nickname Trezeguet, and Amr Warda on the flanks.
RUSSIA
Russia goes into its home World Cup with expectations at rock bottom. It’s the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, according to FIFA, but has a comparatively easy group.
When Russia won the right to host the World Cup eight years ago, the team glowed with potential after reaching the semifinals at the 2008 European Championship. It goes to the World Cup on a seven-game winless run.
Russia’s best chance of a first World Cup win since 2002 is in the opening game June 14 against Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked team at the tournament. Mohamed Salah’s shoulder injury could help Russia’s chances in the second Group A game with Egypt, before Uruguay presents a tough test.
Here’s a closer look at the Russia team:
COACH: Stanislav Cherchesov has tried to refresh a team that was one of the oldest at Euro 2016. The former international goalkeeper made younger midfielders such as Roman Zobnin and Aleksandr Golovin into key members of the team, but he’s yet to be rewarded with wins. Injuries have put his preference for three central defenders under strain, so he switched to a four-man back line for the 1-0 friendly defeat to Austria on May 30.
GOALKEEPERS: Russia captain Igor Akinfeev shot to fame as the 22-year-old goalkeeper who pulled off stunning saves on the team’s way to the semifinals at Euro 2008. Predictions of a big-money transfer never materialized and he spent his entire career at CSKA Moscow. He has a tendency to make errors in high-profile games, including an embarrassing fumble that let South Korea score at the 2014 World Cup.
DEFENDERS: Ruslan Kambolov was investigated by FIFA earlier this year over allegations he may have benefited from Russian doping cover-ups. Kambolov’s lawyers say the investigation was closed for lack of evidence, but FIFA didn’t confirm that. Kambolov was originally included in Russia’s preliminary squad but then dropped citing injury – one of many to have hit Russia’s back line. Central defenders Viktor Vasin and Georgy Dzhikiya both sustained severe knee injuries. Replacements like Ilya Kutepov and Vladimir Granat have struggled to settle and each made notable errors in recent friendlies.
MIDFIELDERS: Zobnin and Golovin are Russia’s main emerging talents. Golovin, a creative spark for CSKA Moscow, seemed overawed at Euro 2016 but now has more experience and was energetic in a 1-1 friendly draw with Turkey on June 5. Cherchesov hasn’t picked a dedicated defensive midfielder, which has often forced Zobnin to play deeper than he’d like. Playmaker Alan Dzagoev, once considered one of Europe’s brightest young talents but now 27, could finally make a meaningful impact at international level.
FORWARDS: Russia’s attacking options were badly dented when Alexander Kokorin was ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury. Fyodor Smolov, the Russian league’s top scorer for the last three seasons, is the clear leading choice, while Artyom Dzyuba is the main backup. Twins Alexei and Anton Miranchuk can work well as second strikers or on the wing.
URUGUAY
Uruguay’s priority will be keeping Luiz Suarez tamed at this World Cup after the talented striker was expelled from the 2014 tournament in disgrace for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.
Things are starting to look brighter for the two-time World Cup champion, based on qualifying at least.
After enduring four consecutive World Cup playoffs and only reaching three of the tournaments, Uruguay secured an automatic place in Russia by finishing second behind Brazil in qualifying.
Here’s a closer look at the Uruguay team:
COACH: Oscar Tabarez will lead Uruguay into his fourth World Cup after a first trip in 1990 followed by 2010 and 2014. A Tabarez team has always made it out of the group stage, including a semifinal appearance in South Africa eight years ago. A former school teacher and professional player, Tabarez led Uruguay to the Copa America title in 2011. The 71-year-old Tabarez has used a wheelchair since he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome in 2016.
GOALKEEPERS: There is little doubt Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera will be between the posts for his third World Cup.
DEFENDERS: The Atletico Madrid partnership of Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez also anchor the heart of Uruguay’s defense. Godin has made more than 100 appearances since his debut in 2005 and scored at his third World Cup with a header against Italy in 2014. The 23-year-old Gimenez offers a solid companion to a player nine years his senior and already has one World Cup under his belt.
Just in case you needed reminding:
Group A: 🇷🇺🇸🇦🇪🇬🇺🇾
Group B: 🇵🇹🇪🇸🇲🇦🇮🇷
Group C: 🇫🇷🇦🇺🇵🇪🇩🇰
Group D: 🇦🇷🇮🇸🇭🇷🇳🇬
Group E: 🇧🇷🇨🇭🇨🇷🇷🇸
Group F: 🇩🇪🇲🇽🇸🇪🇰🇷
Group G: 🇧🇪🇵🇦🇹🇳🏴
Group H: 🇵🇱🇸🇳🇨🇴🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/44OnC6CiHX— 2018 World Cup (@The2018WorldCup) June 11, 2018
MIDFIELDERS: Tabarez has always had doubts about his midfield’s attacking qualities. While the unit has usually been capable of defending well, the midfielders have often struggled to generate chances for the forwards. During qualifying, Tabarez called up several young players who improved in this area: Nahitan Nandez (22) and Rodrigo Bentancur (20).
FORWARDS: Uruguay shouldn’t be short of goals. The strikers are the team’s greatest strength.Suarez is Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 51 goals and is coming off the back of a strong season with Barcelona. Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani is next on the list with 42, including a continent-leading 10 goals in 18 matches in South American qualifying.
SAUDI ARABIA
After dozens of coaching changes in the last 25 years, Saudi Arabia has a proven winner in charge for the World Cup.
Juan Antonio Pizzi led Chile to the 2016 Copa America title, but it won’t likely be easy for the Argentine to get his new team to play the same kind of high-octane, pressing style he used in South America.
Most of the squad heading to Russia doesn’t have any significant experience playing club football outside their homeland. And at No. 67, the Saudis are the lowest ranked of the teams that qualified for the World Cup. Russia slipped four spots to 70 in the latest rankings but qualified as host.
Here’s a closer look at the Saudi Arabia team:
COACH: Pizzi took over after failing to qualify for the World Cup with Chile. The 49-year-old coach’s target is making the round of 16. There have been signs so far of an attempt to introduce more of a passing style instead of the direct strategy used the past two years.
GOALKEEPERS: A resurgent Yasser Al Mosailem and Abdullah Al Muaiouf appear to be vying for the starting role, although Pizzi doesn’t appear to be fixed on a starter. Al Mosailem played in seven of the 10 Asian qualifiers and lost only one of them.
DEFENDERS: The back four is an experienced unit but with three likely starters over 30 they are susceptible to pace from opponents. The 34-year-old Omasa Hawsawi and 32-year-old Omar Othman are set to partner in the center.
MIDFIELDERS: Much depends on Abdullah Otayf, a holding midfielder who has drawn comparisons with Luka Modric of Real Madrid. If Saudi Arabia can start to play out from the back, the 25-year-old Otayf can make the team tick. Taiseer Al-Jassim, who has made more than 130 international appearances, adds to the solidity in the center while Yahia Al-Shehri provides creativity going forward.
FORWARDS: The team lacks a proven scorer at the top level against strong defenses. Mohammed Al-Sahlawi and Muhannad Asiri were picked up front. The wide players are vital. Fahad Al Muwallad, the most talented player available, provides much of the threat.
GROUP A MATCHES (all times PT)
Thursday: Russia vs. Saudi Arabia, 8 a.m.
Friday: Egypt vs. Uruguay, 5 a.m.
June 19: Russia vs. Egypt, 11 a.m.
June 20: Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia, 8 a.m.
June 25: Saudi Arabia vs. Egypt, 7 a.m.; Uruguay vs. Russia, 7 a.m.
Coming next: Group B preview
https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/lists/russia-2018-group-a
