World Cup 2018 Group A- RUS/KSA/EGY/URU

With a month to go and squads starting to be announced I thought it would be an idea to start threads for the World Cup. I've put together a guide to all the teams and these threads can then be used to discuss any further developments and of course the games in each group:

Group A

RUSSIA
SAUDI ARABIA
EGYPT
URUGUAY

Schedule

14th June 16:00        Russia v Saudi Arabia 
15th June 13:00        Egypt v Uruguay

19th June 19:00        Russia v Egypt
20th June 16:00        Uruguay v Saudi Arabia 

25th June 15:00        Uruguay v Russia 
25th June 15:00        Saudi Arabia v Egypt

Team Overviews

Russia

FIFA ranking: 66th

Star Player: Aleksandr Golovin -A lot of hope has been placed on the shoulders of the young CSKA midfielder along with his club teammate Alan Dzagoev they will be key for the hosts

WC History: As Russia they have never made it past the group stage, but as Soviet Union they finished 4^th in 1966.

Odds: 40-1

Synopsis: A favorable enough group for them could see them reach at least the knockout stage but as shown in last year’s Confederations Cup this is a poor Russia side. Goalkeeper and Captain Igor Akinfeev is prone to the odd howler but if they can beat Saudi Arabia in the opening game and keep Egypt’s Mo Salah quiet and pick up a point they might have done enough before the big Uruguay test. Qualified as host

Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Brugge), Andrey Lunev (Zenit St Petersburg)

Defenders: Vladimir Granat, Fyodor Kudryashov (Rubin Kazan), Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow), Andrey Semyonov (Akhmat Grozny), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit St Petersburg), Mario Fernandes, Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow)

Midfielders: Yury Gazinsky (Krasnodar), Alan Dzagoev, Alexander Golovin (CSKA Moscow), Alexander Erokhin, Yury Zhirkov, Daler Kuzyaev (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Zobnin, Alexander Samedov (Spartak Moscow), Anton Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Denis Cheryshev (Villarreal)

Forwards: Artem Dzyuba (Arsenal Tula), Alexei Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Fyodor Smolov (Krasnodar)

Saudi Arabia

FIFA ranking: 70th

Star Player: Mohammad Al-Sahlawi-the Al Nassr man scored 16 goals in qualifying and has scored 28 goals in 37 caps so he will be their danger man

WC History: Made the last 16 on their debut in USA 94 but have not won a game since then.

Odds:500-1

Synopsis: Qualified by pipping Australia to 2^nd place in Group B of the 3^rd round Asian Qualifying. Most likely to be considered the whipping boys of the tournament, they open against Russia and Uruguay before a game against Egypt.

Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Yasser al-Mosaileem (Al-Ahli), Abdullah al-Mayouf (Al-Hilal), Mohammed al-Owais (Al-Ahli)

Defenders: Mansour al-Harbi (Al-Ahli), Yasser al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal), Osama Hawsawi (Al-Hilal), Omar Hawsawi (Al-Nassr), Motaz Hawsawi (Al-Ahli), Ali al-Bulayhi (Al-Hilal), Mohammed al-Burayk (Al-Hilal)

Midfielders: Abdulla Otayf (Al-Hilal), Salman al-Faraj (Al-Hilal), Mohammed Kanno (Al-Hilal), Abdullah al-Khaibari (Al-Shabab), Hussein al-Moqahwi (Al-Ahli), Abdulmalik al-Khaibari (Al-Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al Shabab), Salem al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Taisir al-Jassim (Al-Ahli), Yahya al-Shehri (Al-Nassr), Fahad al-Muwallad (Al-Ittihad)

Forwards: Mohannad Assiri (Al-Ahli), Mohammed al-Sahlawi (Al-Nassr)

Egypt

FIFA ranking: 46th

Star Player: Mohamed Salah- What a season this man has had for club and country, can he bring that form into the World Cup?

WC History: Despite holding the record for African Cup of Nations Egypt have only twice appeared in the World Cup 1934 and 1990 failing to make it past the first round on both occasions.

Odds: 150-1

Synopsis: Finishing top of Group E ahead of Ghana, with Mo Salah on fire this could be the year they finally progress, they open against Uruguay then play the hosts with their final group game against Saudi’s which could be a game which determines whether they progress.

Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly), Essam El Hadary (Al Taawoun), Mohamed El Shennawy (Al Ahly)

Defenders: Mohamed Abdel-Shafi (Al Fateh), Ayman Ashraf (Al Ahly), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahly), Omar Gaber (Los Angeles FC), Ali Gabr (Zamalek), Mahmoud Hamdy (Zamalek), Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich Albion), Saad Samir (Al Ahly)

Midfielders: Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Abdallah El Said (Al Ahly Jeddah), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Mahmoud Kahraba (Al Ittihad Jeddah), Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic), Shikabala (Al Raed), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City), Mahmoud Hassan (Kasimpasa), Amr Warda (Atromitos)

Forwards: Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Uruguay

FIFA ranking: 17th

Star Player: Luis Suarez/ Edison Cavani- I could go for one on the other both the Salto born strikers are capable of firing the Uruguayans to a successful tournament

WC History: Winners in 1930 and 1950, 4^th place is the best they have managed since

Odds: 33-1

Synopsis: Edison Cavani fired 10 goals as they finished 2^nd behind Brazil they did have mid qualifying stutter were they lost 3 on the bounce but a 0-0 against Argentina and then away win against Paraguay pretty much sealed their place. As stated above with Suarez and Cavani they will be a danger, can see them topping their group and with a bit of luck they could reach at least the quarter finals.

Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), Martin Campana (Independiente)

Defenders: Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Sporting CP), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Maximiliano Pereira (FC Porto), Gaston Silva (Independiente), Martin Caceres (Lazio), Guillermo Varela (Penarol)

Midfielders: Nahitan Nandez (Boca Juniors), Lucas Torreira (Sampdoria), Matias Vecino (Inter Milan), Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus), Carlos Sanchez (Monterrey), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro), Diego Laxalt (Genoa), Cristian Rodriguez (Penarol), Jonathan Urretaviscaya (Monterrey)

Forwards: Cristhian Stuani (Girona), Maximiliano Gomez (Celta Vigo), Edinson Cavani (PSG), Luis Suarez (Barcelona)

Edited by lassassinblanc - 04 Jun 2018 at 7:15pm

Just a suggestion, would it be better to name the titles something along the lines of

Nice one

As i said in my team overview you'd have to think Uruguay will top that group and then it will come down between Russia and Egypt probably whoever has the better goal difference as I could see their game being a draw. It's why Russia's first game is vital they need to get a nice +score in that one to put pressure on the Egyptians.

Indeed. Several referees expected to be named in the Russian squad.

Saudi Arabia Squad updated

Egyptians in mourning I'd say.

It's been reported as sprained ligaments 

That white Russian jersey worn in last night's friendly against Austria is quality