Match Preview: Egypt vs Uruguay

After Russia silenced their critics yesterday by thrashing Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opening match, much attention has been turned to the second day of the competition which will see 3 matches. The first of these matches kicks off at 1pm and sees Egypt go up against group favourites Uruguay. 

Egypt have announced that Mo Salah is ‘100% fit’ after his shoulder injury that occurred in this year’s Champions League final and is expected to start the game. The expectations of the nation rest on the Premier league’s top goal scorer last season, so many Egyptians and football fans will blow a sigh of relief. 

Egypt

The African nation are ranked 45^thin the Fifa World Rankings and are coached by Argentine, Hector Cuper. They qualified for the tournament in astonishing fashion as Mo Salah scored am extra time penalty on the final match day of qualification to book their place in Russia. 

Against Uruguay expect Egypt to play a deep line in an attempt to tame their attacking prowess and then punish them on the counter by hoofing the ball up field to Salah who has shown he is deadly in 1v1 situations. This sees them play two CDMs with Arsenals Elneny and Hamad expected to fill those roles and give protection to West Broms Hegazi who will be commanding the backline. 

Hector Cuper’s main objective for this game will be not to concede a lot of goals as if Egypt can come away from this encounter with a point, it sets them up nicely to qualify with two easier games against Russia and Saudi Arabia. 

Uruguay

The South American outfit will go into this game being strong favourites to win it and top the group. The side is ranked 14^thin the world and is captained by Atletico Madrid’s club captain, Diego Godin.  They qualified only second to Brazil and enter the tournament as dark horses who could cause an upset to one of the bigger sides in the knockout stages. 

Like Egypt, expect Uruguay to be defensively sound in the group stages as their defense will most likely consist of an Atletico pairing of both Godin and Gimenez. Under new coach Oscar Taberez, Uruguay have changed their direct style of play into a procession based game which allows the previous non-existent midfield into the game. 

A player to keep an eye on during this tournament is definitely 22 year-old winger Nandez. He currently captains Boca Juniors and is a defensively solid center midfield who also has that final third pass in his locker which could slice open opposition defenses. 

With their striking force consisting of both Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani, it is safe to say Uruguay are in safe hands which it comes to scoring goals. The pair have a combined total of 72 goals for the 17/18 season for both Barcelona and PSG.  If both are in the mood against Egypt and recreate their club form I am sure they will find a way to break through Egypt’s parked bus. 

Bookies Odds: 

Uruguay - 1/2

Draw – 3/1 

Egypt – 13/2 

Prediction:

The first half should see two equal teams who will be finding their feet in this tournament, however, the second half should be more open as Egypt’s defense will grow tired and Uruguay’s attack will run riot. 

I am going for a 2-0 win for Uruguay with Cavani and Suarez sharing the goals.