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This is our World Cup news section where we provide any news items that might have a significant effect on the matches being played - or sports betting in general.

World Cup News :: Group A Preview : Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay

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Posted on 2018-06-07 by Cruiser

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World Cup 2018 : Group A Preview

RUSSIA

FIFA Ranking :
Russia are currently ranked 66 in the world (on June 7th).

Previous World Cup appearances :
Russia have appeared in three World Cups since 1994 and in each time they have failed to get out of the group stage with the most recent being in 2014.

The Coach :
Russia are led by Coach Stanislav Cherchesov and he led Spartak Moscow to four Russian league titles and FC Tirol Innsbruck to three league championships in Austria in a long career which also included 39 caps for Russia and eight appearances for the Soviet Union.

He began coaching in Austria, later returning to manage a host of Russian sides including Spartak and Dynamo Moscow. He led the Polish side Legia Warsaw to a league and cup double in 2015-16 and was named Leonid Slutsky’s successor in charge of the Russian national team in 2016.

Key Players :
Fyodor Smolov: He has played strongly recently with Krasnodar to finish as second top scorer in the Russian Premier League. He has scored 12 goals in 30 international games, Russia will rely heavily on him to get out of the group.

Igor Akinfeev: He has been very faithful to CSKA Moscow and the goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets than anyone else in the history of Russia’s top flight. He has more than 100 caps since making his debut in 2004.

Aleksei Miranchuk: As playmaker in the team he was one of the key men behind Lokomotiv Moscow winning their first league title in 14 years this season.

Form Guide :
Russia's recent results do not make positive reading. They have lost eight games out of 18 under Cherchesov, winning only five games. Most of these matches were friendlies while they lost to Portugal and Mexico in the Confederations Cup and only beat New Zealand.

In October they did beat South Korea 4-2 and that gave them some hope, but they have failed to win in five games since then. In November they did surprised many with a 3-3 draw with Spain butwere beaten 3-0 by Brazil and 3-1 by France in their most recent games. They also lost to Austria by 1-0 and their last match was a 1-1 draw with Turkey.

Prospects :
There is a big possibility that Russia could repeat what South Africa did back in 2010 in failing to get out of their group as hosts.

Cherchesov's side are mostly young, inexperienced and mostly play in Russia's top flight and most of their players do not have the experience and have not tested themselves against international sides.

The only thing in their favour is that they have a kind draw which placed them with Uruguay, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in Group A.

SAUDI ARABIA

FIFA Ranking :
They are currently ranked 67 in the world (on June 7th).

Previous tournaments :
Saudi Arabia are appearing in their first World Cup since 2006and that was when they exited the group stage for the third time in a row.

Their best achievement remains when they made their debut qualification for the World Cup when they reached the round of 16 in the United States in 1994 after a memorable 1-0 win over Belgium, courtesy of Saeed Al Owairan's slaloming wonder goal.

The Coach :
They are led by Juan Antonio Pizzi. The Argentina-born former Spain international midfielder Pizzi took over as Saudi Arabia head coach in late November 2017 after Dutchman Bert van Marwijk, who took the country for the finals, did not have his contract renewed.

Key Players :
Yahya Al Shehri: Despite being small in size he has trickery and an eye for a pass make him one of Saudi Arabia's most valuable player. Has spent several months on loan with La Liga side Leganes.

Taisir Al Jassim: He has represented his country more than 120 times while also leading club side Al Ahli to the Saudi title in 2016.

Fahad Al Muwallad: He is a fast winger who scored the goal against Japan that ensured Saudi Arabia qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time since 2006.

Form Guide :
Since securing qualification for the finals, Saudi Arabia have been poor. They were knocked out of the keenly contested Gulf Cup at the end of the group phase in December.

Saudi Arabia have won only one of their four warm-up games ahead of Russia. Their matches with Moldova and Iraq were low profile games, second-string affairs, the 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Belgium showed that they could not cope with the top teams.

In recent games they have managed to beat Algeria and Greece both by 2-0 and their last two matches played in St Gallen Switzerland have seen them suffered defeats to Italy 2-1 and lost to Peru by 3-0.

Prospects :
The key will be the opening game with host nation Russia for Pizzi and his team as they seek to set a positive start for the rest of their matches. Their clash with another Arab nation will be most keenly followed matches in the Middle East no doubt.

However under Van Marwijk they have fallen short of standards, so Saudi Arabia are not likely to make it out of the group stage.

EGYPT

FIFA Ranking :
They are currently ranked 46 in the world (on June 7th).

Previous tournaments :
Egypt have appeared in two previous World Cups - in 1934 and 1990. They have never won a match in the tournament before.

Egypt became the first African nation to qualify for a World Cup in 1934, but were beaten 4-2 by Hungary in their only game. They finished bottom of their group at the 1990 tournament with two draws and a defeat.

The Coach :
Juan Antonio Pizzi has spent a decade managing clubs in Spain and Italy, such as Inter Milan and Valencia, whom he led to two Champions League finals.

He was appointed Egypt manager in 2015 and has made the team into a strong defensive unit but some fans are keen for them to display a more attacking style of play.

Key players :
Mohamed Salah: He has enjoyed a great season for Liverpool this season, scoring 44 goals in 51 appearances and that has led to comparisons with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. His participation is in doubt but he is in a race to be fit and could start their second or third game for the country.

Essam El Hadary: The goalkeeper is the Captain of the side and will become the oldest player to appear at a World Cup. For the record, El Hadary won the first of his more than 150 caps for Egypt in 1996, 10 months before the birth of his international team mate Ramadan Sobhi.

Mohamed Elneny: He players for Arsenal in the English Premier League and is also an important player for the side. Elneny is the defensive shield in front of Egypt's centre backs. He is still working his way back to full fitness following an ankle injury, but should be able to start their games.

Form guide :
Egypt have lost their two friendlies, against Portugal and Greece and then they made two draws against Kuwait and Colombia. In their last friendly match before the World Cup they were beaten by Belgium 3-0.

After reaching the African Nations Cup final last year, they have only managed two wins, three draws and four defeats.

Prospects :
Egypt are drawn in Group A with Uruguay, Russia and Saudi Arabia - and there are chances that Egypt can finish second.

URUGUAY

Fifa Ranking :
Uruguay are currently ranked 17 in the world (on June 7th).

Previous tournaments :
Uruguay have played in 12 World Cups and have won the World Cup twice in their history. They won the tournament in 1930 as hosts in the inaugural edition, and again in 1950 in Brazil.

After failing to qualify for the 2006 event in Germany, they made a surprise by reaching the semi-finals in South Africa four years later. Four years ago in Brazil, they reached the last 16 where they were beaten by fellow South Americans Colombia.

The Coach :
Uruguay are led by Oscar Tabarez aged 71 years old. He took charge of Uruguay for a second spell in 2006 and the coach, fondly known as 'El Maestro', and he will lead the national team into their third consecutive World Cup.

Tabarez has excelled in mixing teams with a blend of youth and experience. He also introduced many young players who played key roles during Uruguay's qualifying campaign. T

Key Players :
Luis Suarez (aka Mr Bitey): He will hope to avoid any incidents this time around after he was handed a lengthy ban from soccer for nibbling Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during a group-stage encounter in Brazil four years ago. Suarez scored five times in Uruguay's qualifying campaign and became the national team's all-time leading scorer with his 50th goal during the China Cup tournament earlier this year.

Edinson Cavani: He was the top scorer for Uruguay during their World Cup qualifying campaign with 10 goals and finished ahead of players such as Argentina's Lionel Messi, who had seven, and Brazil's Neymar, who had six goals. The Paris St Germain striker will hope to improve his World Cup scoring record in Russia, as the 31-year-old only has scored just twice in 10 games at the World Cup.

Diego Godin: He has made 100 appearances for the national team. He plays for Atletico Madrid as a defender and is key at the heart of Uruguay's defence. The 32-year-old has shown that he can be equally effective in attack as he has scored three goals in early qualifying.

Form guide :
After reaching the World Cup finals comfortably, Uruguay were held to a goalless draw by Poland and were beaten 2-1 by Austria in forgettable international friendlies at the end of last year.

However, they beat the Czech Republic 2-0 in their China Cup opener before edging past Wales 1-0 to lift the title in March. In their friendly matches they have beaten Czech Republic by 2-0 and also Wales by 1-0.

Prospects :
Uruguay have never failed to get out of the group stages under Tabarez and the former champions will consider themselves firm favourites to go through from Group A.

THE BETTING VERDICT

I expect Uruguay to top the group - available at 1.80 at BET365

The second place will be a tight battle battle between Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Russia. If you think it will finish 1st Uruguay / 2nd Egypt then that exact combo is available at 8.00 at BET365

 

Sourced From : Gooners Guide to the World Cup Groups

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