World Cup 2018 Group A Preview and Predictions
Group A consists of hosts Russia, two-time World Cup Champions Uruguay, Mo Salah’s Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and at a glance one expects the first three to be competing for the top two spots in the group.
Uruguay understandably so, are favourites to win Group A, with hosts Russia as hosts tipped to finish second, however it is Egypt to qualify that draws the attention after the quite exceptional form of their king Mo Salah. With Saudi Arabia having played in just 4 World Cups and progressed through to the last 16 on just the one occasion back in 1994, it is highly unlikely that they will progress through to the last 16.
Let’s take a closer look at each team and see who might impress from Group A and advance through to the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup.
Uruguay
Twice winners in 1930 and 1950, the South Americans have flattered to deceive in recent tournaments despite having obvious quality. They do come into the tournament in pretty good shape after qualifying second behind Brazil with 9 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses, however they will rely heavily on the form and fitness of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez.
Since Zlatan Ibrahimovic left PSG at the end of the 2015/16 season, Cavani has thrived up front for the French Champions, topping the League 1 scoring charts for the last few years, although it must be said that Neymar might well have denied him this honour had he remained fit throughout the season. Still his form has been superb and more crucially he has managed to sustain this at the top level, scoring 10 goals during qualification.
Luis Suarez has been no stranger to World Cup controversy after the 2010 handball v Ghana, then of course the moment of madness in 2014 when he decided to bite Giorgio Chellini. True Suarez can be a liability, however he is undeniably world class and this is the stage he belongs on.
Since the last World Cup, Suarez has scored 108 goals in 122 appearances for Barcelona, a remarkable return when you consider he was playing with Messi and Neymar! During this time, he has been an integral part of Barcelona’s success which has seen them win 11 trophies since the last World Cup.
Despite a slow and frustrating start to the season, Suarez has responded with 33 goals in 51 matches for the Catalan giants, although question marks still remain over his temperament and his ability to pick up yellow cards, 11 during the season so far!
More importantly and like his compatriot Cavani, he has transferred his club form onto the international stage with 5 goals and 7 assists during qualification.
With both these players in a rich vein of form, more experienced and having enjoyed a trophy glut over the last 4 years with their respective clubs. Uruguay should have no excuses for not getting through the group stages.
It isn’t only about these two as Uruguay have a number of top class players, most notably, Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin and 20-year-old Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who could very well be one of the stars of the tournament.
If their stars can fire they can go deep into the tournament.
Uruguay Provisional World Cup 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), 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).
Forwards: Cristhian Stuani (Girona), Maximiliano Gomez (Celta Vigo), Edinson Cavani (PSG), Luis Suarez (Barcelona).
Russia
As hosts of the 2018 World Cup, Russia never had to endure the emotional rollercoaster of the qualification process. In fact, history is very much in their favour when you take into account the past performances of the hosting nations. That said the pressure will be very much on them as they attempt to avoid becoming just the second country to not get through the group stages at their own World Cup, South Africa in 2010 being the only host nation to have this unwanted accolade.
While Russia are not expected to win the tournament, or get even close for that matter, they will take heart from the fact that 6 hosting nations have lifted the FIFA World Cup Trophy, France being the last to do so back in 1998. Adding to this Stanislav Chercheshov’s team will be riding on a wave of emotion and will be expected to deliver for their demanding home fans.
This will be just their fourth World Cup since splitting from the Soviet Union in 1990 and they will be mindful of the fact that in 1994, 2002 and 2014, they failed to qualify from the group stages.
In Brazil 2014 they failed to win a match and while it is tough to see them not beating Saudi Arabia they are not expected to beat Uruguay. A win against Egypt is the game they will surely target and one that could see them sneak through.
As a result of them not having to qualify, it is tough to benchmark expectations and at what level their team is at coming into the tournament. At Euro 2016 they were poor, picking up just the one point in a draw with England, however in 104 cap keeper Igor Akinfeev they have a player that can certainly lift the team on a wave of national pride.
CSKA midfielder Alan Dzagoev, striker Aleksandr Kokorin and defender Yuri Zhirkov will be key players for the Russian’s in their qualification aspirations although the nation will most likely be their most important weapon when they open up proceedings against Saudi Arabia.
Russia World Cup 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)
Egypt
Egypt have the distinction of being the first African nation to qualify for the World Cup back in 1934, however it has been a pretty barren spell for them since then, with qualification only achieved in 1990 and Russia 2018. By their own admission this would be regarded as an under achievement, especially for a team that has won more African Cup of Nations than any other.
Another record they won’t be thinking about too much coming into the tournament is that they have yet to win a World Cup match, one that surely must change in 2018.
The Egyptians qualified top of their group with 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss from their 6 games, ahead of Uganda. Ghana and Congo, Liverpool sensation Mohamed Salah scoring 5 of their 8 goals.
Salah’s form this season has been nothing short of sensational.
The “Egyptian King” has scored 44 goals in all competitions, setting a new Liverpool scoring record for the season previously held by the legendary Ian Rush back in 1983/84. Add into the mix his ability to set up others it would be a shock if he didn’t scoop the most coveted prize of all the Ballon d’Or.
Salah has also picked up the African Player of the Year award, the PFA Player of the Year award and pretty much every award availible by the Premier League and Liverpool, accolades that will put opposition defences on high alert.
His incredible performances will undoubtedly inspire the team around him and in Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny and Stoke’s Ramadan Sobhi, there is additional Premier League experience to call upon.
While all eyes will be on Salah, goalkeeper Essam el-Hadary, will earn his own slice of World Cup history in the summer. Hadary will be 45 years and four months when the tournament starts and will eclipse Colombian Faryd Mondragón, who was 43 years and 3 days old in 2002, as the oldest player in World Cup history.
Egypt will open up their campaign against Uruguay, a point or through the brilliance of Salah they can sneak a win, then expect them to push on through to the next round.
Egypt World Cup 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)
Saudi Arabia
From 1994 until 2006, Saudi Arabia qualified for 4 consecutive World Cups, however it was back in 1994 that they registered their only 2 wins over Morocco and Belgium, and in the process advanced through to the last 16. Since then it has been 9 matches played, no wins and 2 draws, a record that is difficult to see them improving on this time around.
In qualification they finished runners-up to Japan in their group, edging Australia on goal difference. Finding the back of the net wasn’t a problem for the Arabian nation, scoring 17 goals in their 10 games, Nawaf Al Abed leading the line with 5.
An additional 8 of their team also contributed in the goal department, showcasing that they are a threat in a number of attacking positions. That said it is tough to see them winning a game.
Their World Cup Final will unquestionably be their opening game of the tournament against the hosts Russia. Cause an upset there and I dread to think what the mood of the nation will be like for the rest of the tournament!
Saudi Arabia World Cup 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)
SPORTSvox World Cup Group A Predictions
Uruguay have too much quality in their ranks to not go through top of the group, however I believe Egypt will not only win their first World Cup match but go through with the South American team. Sometimes people in sports write their own scripts as we have seen Mo Salah do this season with Liverpool, and I expect Russia 2018 will be the next chapter in his incredible story.
World Cup 2018 Fixtures, Group A
THURSDAY 14TH JUNE
Russia v Saudi Arabia
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
FRIDAY 15TH JUNE
Egypt v Uruguay
Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg
TUESDAY 19TH JUNE
Russia v Egypt
Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
WEDNESDAY 20TH JUNE
Uruguay v Saudi Arabia
Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don
MONDAY 25TH JUNE
Saudi Arabia v Egypt
Volgograd Arena, Volgograd
MONDAY 25TH JUNE
Uruguay v Russia
Samara Arena, Samar
