2018 Fifa World Cup Russia Group A Guide, Preview, and Analysis

GROUP A

Russia,Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay

Russia

Russia will be headed by Stanislav Cherchsov and will be under pressure to deliver at home soil as most nations show difficulties in handling pressure.
The hosts are ranked 66 and head into this tournament being among the lowest ranked sides.
They have also lacked consistency in their friendly matches winning just five of their last 20 matches and losing 10
Russia will mostly use the 3-5-2 formation as they have a good midfield but will struggle upfront with the injury to dependable striker Aleksandr Kokorin.
Veteran Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev should provide leadership from the back as he also doubles up as the captain for the hosts
Krasnodar forward Fyodor Smolov will be the main man in front of goal and so far scored 12 goals of the 31 caps he has featured.
Locomotive playmaker Anton Miranchuk is the creative force and will be the one tasked to control the tempo and unlock the defence from the middle of the park.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia are ranked 67 in the Coca Cola FIFA rankings and will be coached by former Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi.
The Saudi Arabia squad consist of home based players only and have the oldest team in Russia with an average age of 29 years.
Pizzi prefers the 4-2-3-1 formation and has a talented crop of players at the middle of the park,
veteran Omar Hawsawi(34) has vast experience to organize the back line and is a very discipline player having only received one red card in his entire career.
In-front of goal, all eyes will turn on Al Nasr forward Mohamad Al Salawi to find the back of the net and has scored 28 goals in the 39 matches he has featured.
Both Osama Hawasawi and Al Jassim have a combined 160 caps and should provide experience for the national side if they are to advance to the next stage.

Egypt

Fear of the Egypt poster boy Mo Salah missing the tournament are now beyond them after the Liverpool forward was declared fit.
FIFA reported that Egyptian fans were among the biggest ticket requesters already, which suggests they will have a fantastic support.
Led by Hector Cuper who prefers the defence approach and break on the counter which is evident having only conceded 18 goals in the 32 games he has been incharge.
England based trio Mohamed El neny, Ramadhan Sobhi and Mo Salah should provide the much needed quality for Egypt.
The North African side should have enough to get past the group stage and that should solely rely on Mo Salah fitness.

Uruguay

Probably the most talented side in the group led by by Barcelona lethal striker Luis Suarez, Uruguay look more compact than the previous years with emerging talent among the group.
Led by Oscar Tabarez who prefers two at the top in the 4-4-2 formation with pressure from all the over the pitch.
Uruguay defence is is more compact and Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin both from Atletico Madrid, will make a solid consistent center back pair.
The midfield will be Marshalled by emerging talent Rodrigo Bentacur who plies his trade with Juventus and inter Milan's Vecino.
The front two should pick themselves with Luis Suarez and Cavani slotting in well with Stuani on standby .