World Cup 2018 Preview: Group A

Group A
Group A is one the most difficult groups of this year’s World Cup to predict. It is also considered by many to be one of the least exiting groups due to the lack of real quality teams. However, this is also why Group A may prove to one the most interesting groups to follow this summer, and there is no lack of quality players either. It consists of the host, Russia, which will have the whole country behind them in their effort to advance to the last 16. This task will not be easy with players like Luis Suarez and Mo Salah on the oppositions halves.

Matches

June 14th Russia v Saudi Arabia
June 15th Egypt v Uruguay

June 19th Russia v Egypt
June 20th Uruguay v Saudi Arabia

June 25th Saudi Arabia v Egypt
June 25th Uruguay v Russia

Russia
The host nation of this World Cup, Russia is far away in quality of the team that surprised everyone in the Euros 2008, where they reached the semifinals. They are by many considered one of the weakest teams in the tournament and they have never progressed from the group stage before. However, with the country behind them and a manageable group, Russia will look to advance, anything else will be considered a failure.

It is also worth mentioning that because Russia hosts the World Cup, they did not play any qualification matches as they were automaticity qualitied. The lack of competitive matching may prove a disadvantage.

Manager: Stanislav Cherchesov

Key Players: Igor Akinfeev (GK), Golovin (M), Smolov (S)

Predicted Line up (5-3-1-1): Igor Akinfeev; Mario Fernandes, Vladimir Granat, Ilya Kutepov, Fyodor Kudryashov, Yuri Zhirkov; Roman Zobnin, Aleksandr Golovin, Alan Dzagoev; Aleksei Miranchuk; Fyodor Smolov.

Many Russians will look to their Captain, Akinfeev this World Cup.

Saudi Arabia
By finishing second in their qualifying group behind Japan, Saudi Arabia secured their first World Cup place since 2006. An unpredictable and attacking team, that can beat strong teams in one game, to lose against a weaker team the next. They are along with Russia one of the lowest ranked teams in the tournament, but just like Russia, they will look at this group and believe they can reach the last 16. They will play attacking football and likely leak a lot of goals, for this reason they will likely be involved in some high scoring and fun games.

One of the biggest issues for Saudi Arabia compared to their group rivals, is the fact that very few of their players, play outside of Saudi Arabia. In preparation for the World Cup, several Saudi Arabian players have been training with top clubs in Europe including Manchester United, to better prepare for the upcoming tournament. Will this arrangement prove to be successful? Only time will tell.

Manager: Edgardo Bauza

Key Players: Al-Muwallad (M), Al-Abed (M), Al-Sahlawi (S)

Predicted line up (4-3-3): Abdullah Al-Mayouf; Yasser Al-Shahrani, Osama Hawsami, Motaz Hawsawi, Mansoor Al-Harbi; Abdullah Otayf, Yahya Al Shehri, Salman Al-Faraj; Fahad Al-Muwallad, Muhammad Al-Sahlawi, Salem Al-Dawsari.

Egypt
When it comes to Egypt, most will look to Mohammed Salah, and rightly so. The Liverpool winger has this season established himself as one of the world’s best players and broken the scoring record for most goals during one season in the Premier League. He was also Egypt’s top scorer in the qualifiers with 5 goals. Unfortunately, Salah got injured during the Champions League final. However, judging by his own comments on social media, he should be able to play in the World Cup. For Egypt to battle it out with Russia and Saudi Arabia for that second spot, they need a Mohammed Salah.
Another important player is Elneny from Arsenal who is also returning from injury. It will be up to these two to dictate Egypt’s offense. At the back, Egypt is strong and will frustrate the other teams.

Manager: Hector Cuper

Key Players: Hegazi (D), Elneny (M), Salah (M)

Predicted Line up( 4-2-3-1): Essam El-Hadary; Ahmed Fathy, Ahmed Hegazi, Ali Gabr, Mohamed Abdel Shafy; Tarek Hamed, Mohamed Elneny; Mohamed Salah, Abdallah El-Said, Trezeguet; Koka.

Will Salah once again be the Egyptian hero?

Uruguay
Group A’s favorites. Uruguay is the team most believe will advance through the group stages from Group A. Uruguay usually deploys a classical 4-4-2 which is hard to break down, and with players like Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez in attack, Uruguay will prove a difficult task for any team this tournament. The Atletico Madrid pairing of Godin and Gimenez also have a lot of quality and experience at the back that will prove useful.

If Uruguay are to go into the last 16, they are likely to meet either Spain or Portugal. Spain will be the end of this Uruguay team. The lack of star quality, especially in midfield will be too big a match against Spain. Portugal however, will be a more even contested match up that could see Uruguay reaching the quarter finals.

Manager: Óscar Tabárez

Key players: Godin (D), Cavani (S), Suarez (S)

Predicted Line up (4-4-2): Muslera; Varela, Godin, Gimenez, Careres; Nandez, Vecino, Valverde, Rodruguez; Suarez, Cavani.

The Uruguay national team

Prediction:

1. Uruguay
2. Egypt
3. Russia
4. Saudi Arabia