World Cup 2018 Group A
GROUP A
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Russia
Russia will be under huge pressure to do well at their own World Cup. Minimum expectations are progress from their group. This is certainly doable but they must surely win their opening game against Saudi Arabia and also beat or avoid defeat against Group A's wild cards Egypt. The retirement of the Berezutski brothers left a hole in the Russian defence yet to be successfully patched. Their are weaknesses too in midfield and especially among the strikers. Alexandr Kokorin is injured and his replacement is probably the giant Artem Dzyuba.
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Russia Kit 1
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Russia Kit 2
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Russia v Saudi Arabia 14 June; Moscow (Luzhniki)
Russia v Egypt 19 June; Saint Petersburg
Russia v Uruguay 25 June; Samara
Coach
Stanislav Cherchesov (age 54)
Record
1970, 1990, 1994, 2002, 2014 First round; 1982, 1986 Second Round; 1958, 1970 Quarter Finals; 1966 fourth place
Men to watch
Fyodor Smolov plays his football for Krasnodar and is a proven goal scorer. Much is expected of the Miranchuk twins who play for Lokomotiv. Very young at just 22 years of age, their time will come later, rather than this World Cup.
Russia should make it out of the group backed by fervent home support and playing in home conditions. However, a limited squad will do well to progress much further.
How they qualified
Russia qualified automatically as hosts.
On the sidelines
This is the first World Cup to be held in Russia.
Analysis
Squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Club Brugge), Andrey Lunev (Zenit St Petersburg)
Defenders: Vladimir Granat (Rubin Kazan), Fedor Kudryashov (Rubin Kazan), Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow), Andrey Semenov (Akhmat Grozny), Sergei Ignashevich, Mario Fernandes (both CSKA Moscow), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit St Petersburg)
Midfielders: Yuri Gazinskiy (Krasnodar), Alexsandr Golovin (CSKA Moscow), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Aleksandr Erokhin, Yuri Zhirkov, Daler Kuzyaev (all Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Zobnin (Spartak Moscow), Alexsandr Samedov (Spartak Moscow), Anton Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Denis Cheryshev (Villarreal)
Strikers: Artem Dzyuba (Arsenal Tula), Aleksey Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Fedor Smolov (Krasnodar)
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia qualified behind Japan in Asia Qualifying Group B. The weakest team in the group, Saudi Arabia will be lucky to make much of an impression. Their recent friendly results have also not been encouraging. They include a heavy beating against Belgium and a loss against Iraq. The Green Falcons will want to keep it tight at the back and catch teams on the break. Juan Antonio Pizzi is the new man in charge after the Saudi Fa dumped Bert van Marwijk, after the Dutchman had led the team to Russia, then his replacement Edgardo Bauza soon after.
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Saudi Arabia Kit 1
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Saudi Arabia Kit 2
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Saudi Arabia v Russia 14 June; Moscow (Luzhniki)
Saudi Arabia v Uruguay 20 June; Rostov-on-Don
Saudi Arabia v Egypt 25 June; Volgograd
Coach
Juan Antonio Pizzi (age 49)
Record
1998, 2002, 2006 First Round; 1994 Second Round
Men to watch
Osama Hawsawi has over 130 caps for the national team. Fajhad Al Mulwallad is the team's star player but has had no opportunities with Levante in Spain.
We predict Saudi Arabia will come last in Group A but their match with Egypt seems key and one they feel they can win.
How they qualified
Saudi Arabia finished second in Asian Qualifying Group B behind Japan.
On the sidelines
Argentinian coach Juan Antonio Pizzi jumped ship from Chile to Saudi Arabia after Chile failed to qualify for Russia.
Analysis
Squad
Goalkeepers: Mohammed Al Owais (Al Ahli), Yasser Al Mosailem (Al Ahli), Abdullah Al Mayouf (Al Hilal)
Defenders: Mansoor Al Harbi (Al Ahli), Yasser Al Shahrani (Al Hilal) Mohammed Al Breik (Al Hilal), Motaz Hawsawi (Al Ahli), Osama Hawsawi (Al Hilal), Omar Hawsawi (Al Nassr), Ali Al Bulaihi (Al Hilal)
Midfielders: Abdullah Al Khaibari (Al Shabab), Abdulmalek Al Khaibri (Al Hilal), Abdullah Otayf (Al Hilal), Taiseer Al Jassim (Al Ahli), Houssain Al Mogahwi (Al Ahli), Salman Al Faraj, Mohamed Kanno (both Al Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al Shabab), Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal), Yahya Al Shehri (Al Nassr), Fahad Al Muwallad (Al Ittihad)
Strikers: Mohammad Al Sahlawi (Al Nassr), Muhannad Assiri (Al Ahli)
Egypt
Egypt have a core of solid Premier League players in their squad including Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, Mohamed El Neny at Arsenal and Ahmed Hegazi at WBA. Egypt could be a surprise package with a solid defence and an attack effective on the counter. Salah's shoulder injury in the Champions League Final against Real Madrid has thrown a large spanner in the Egyptian works. If he does play how fit will he be?
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Egypt Kit 1
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Egypt Kit 2
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Egypt v Uruguay 15 June; Ekaterinburg
Egypt v Russia 19 June; Saint Petersburg
Egypt v Saudi Arabia; 25 June; Volgograd
Coach
Hector Cuper (age 62)
Record
1934, 1990 First Round
Men to watch
Mohamed Salah has had a superb season at Liverpool with 32 goals in the Premier League. This broke the current record. Abdallah Said is the playermaker in the side and joined Finnish side KuPS to get playing time ahead of the World Cup.
Could cause an upset against Russia and should beat Saudi but it seems more likely Egypt will fall at the first hurdle. The bookmakers are going for Uruguay and Russia to progress from Group A.
How they qualified
Egypt came through African Qualifying Round Group E as winners.
On the sidelines
Egypt are making only their 3rd trip to the World Cup. Coach Cuper works in Spanish using translators.
Analysis
Squad
Goalkeepers: Essam El Hadary (Al Taawoun), Mohamed El-Shennawy (Al Ahly), Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly)
Defenders: Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahly), Saad Samir (Al Ahly), Ayman Ashraf (Al Ahly), Mahmoud Hamdy (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdel-Shafy (Al Fateh), Ahmed Hegazi (West Brom), Ali Gabr (Zamalek), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Omar Gaber (Los Angeles FC)
Midfielders: Tarek Hamed, (Zamalek), Shikabala (Zamalek), Abdallah Said (Al Ahli), Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Mahmoud Kahraba (Al Ittihad), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City), Mahmoud Hassan (Kasimpasa), Amr Warda (Atromitos Athens)
Strikers: Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Uruguay
Uruguay are two times winners of the World Cup and should exit Group A along with hosts Russia. Solid at the back with Atletico's Godin outstanding as stopper and captain. Luis Suarez leads a prolific attack along with PSG's Edinson Cavani. Tabarez has introduced several youngsters from the successful Under-20 teams and the national side now play a more possession-based game. Uruguay could go far.
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Uruguay Kit 1 |
Uruguay Kit 2 |
Uruguay v Egypt v 15 June; Yekaterinburg
Uruguay v Saudi Arabia 20 June; Rostov-on-Don
Uruguay v Russia 25 June; Samara
Coach
Oscar Tabarez (age 71)
Record
1962, 1974, 2002 First Round; 1986, 1990, 2014 Second Round; 1966 Quarterfinals; 1954, 1970, 2010 Fourth Place; 1930, 1950 Champions.
Men to watch
Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, the strikers, of course but a probable midfield pairing of Real madrid youngster, Frederico Valverde and Inter's Matias Vecino. Rodrigo Bentancur is another of the youngsters unleased by Tabarez.
Will qualify from the group and from then on will be dangerous opponents.
How they qualified
Uruguay finished second behind Brazil in South American qualifying.
On the sidelines
Manager Oscar Tabarez is a veteran coach who has managed big clubs in Italy (Milan), Spain, Colombia, Argentina and his home country of Uruguay. He has previously coached Uruguay at the 1990, 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
Analysis
Squad
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), Martin Campana (Independiente)
Defenders: Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Sporting Lisbon), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Maximiliano Pereira (Porto), Gaston Silva (Independiente), Martin Caceres (Lazio), Guillermo Varela (Penarol)
Midfielders: Nahitan Nandez (Boca Juniors), Lucas Torreira (Sampdoria), Matias Vecino (Inter Milan), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus), Carlos Sanchez (Monterrey), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro), Diego Laxalt (Genoa), Cristian Rodriguez (Penarol), Jonathan Urretaviscaya (Monterrey), Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders), Gaston Ramirez (Sampdoria)
Strikers: Cristhian Stuani (Girona), Maximiliano Gomez (Celta Vigo), Edinson Cavani (Paris St-Germain), Luis Suarez (Barcelona)