Match Previews
World Cup 2018
Round Group A
Uruguay
Last updated: Mon 25 June 2018 08:07Uruguay have won both World Cup games 1-0 thus far. Have claimed five straight victories in 2018. No selection headaches aside from Jimenez. Changes possible for this game.
Uruguay moved serenely through to the last 16 of the World Cup as they produced a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Again, it was not a particularly smooth display, but a Luis Suarez goal following a set piece gave them the win.
Oscar Washington Tabarez’s side had won their opening match 1-0 over Egypt also thanks to a set piece goal – that arriving from centre-back Jose Maria Gimenez.
Uruguay are now five out of five in terms of their performance in 2018. Remarkably, they have not conceded a goal in any of these games, even if their attacking power has been below what might have been expected of such a talented forward line.
Tabarez made a couple of changes against the Saudis with respect to the side he fielded in the opening match. On the wings, Cristian Rodriguez and Carlos Sanchez were invited to start, though given that this match appears to be something of a dead rubber, they may be rested.
It is difficult to see Uruguay going at this game full throttle; they will play either Spain or Portugal in the last 16 and it is unlikely to make a great difference to them which one of the European sides they face.
Jose Maria Jimenez misses out due to a thigh injury; it could make the coach change his mind on a 3-5-2 system, which he had been tipped to play.
Uruguay have played Wales and the Czech Republic this year in terms of European opposition and have won 1-0 and 2-0 respectively.
Russia
Last updated: Mon 25 June 2018 06:46Were impressive against Egypt last time out. Have already qualified for the next round. A win or draw secures top spot in the group. Aleksandr Kokorin, Giorgi Jikia and Viktor Vasin the most significant absentees from the squad. Alan Dzagoev missing, expected to be back for their round of 16 match.
Russia continued their excellent start to the competition with a comprehensive win over a dangerous Eygpt side. Stanislav Cherchesov's are already through into the final 16 which is a massive achievement for the side ranked lowest in the competition going into this tournament.
Two players have really stood out for Russia in the World Cup so far. Midefielder Denis Cheryshev has scored 3 goals so far this competition after starting the tournament on the bench. Target man striker Artem Dzyuba got his first start of the competition last time out and scored his second goal so far.
Three regulars in the lead up to the tournament Aleksandr Kokorin, Giorgi Jikia and Viktor Vasin are all out of action with long term injuries and are missing from the squad. Centre backs Jikia and Vasin's deputies have done well though. 38 year old veteran Sergey Ignashevich and Ilya Kutepov have formed a solid partnership in a defence which has conceded just a single goal so far.
Creative midfielder Alan Dzagoev looks likely to miss this match with an injury picked up in the first half of the match against Saudi Arabia. The CSKA Moscow player may feature again in the knockout stage as he is already back in light training, but this game comes too soon for him.
Even with the two excellent results behind them, Cherchesov still has some tough choices ahead of this match in terms of team selection. In attack Dzyuba has scored twice but if the plan is not to play aerial balls, then Fedor Smolov still has a chance of starting.
Cherchesov has also stated that Fedor Smolov and Alexander Golovin will both be used even though they would miss the round of 16 match if they pick up a yellow card.
Russia and Uruguay have only met each other once before - a friendly in Moscow in 2012 which ended all square at 1 - 1.
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5-3-2 Previous Line Ups
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| F. Muslera | |||
| N. Nandez | |||
| S. Coates | |||
| D Godin | |||
| M. Caceres | |||
| D. Laxalt | |||
| M. Vecino | |||
| L. Torreira | |||
| R. Bentancur | |||
| L. Suarez | |||
| E. Cavani |
4-2-3-1 Previous Line Ups
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Akinfeev | |||
| Mar. Fernandes | |||
| S. Ignashevich | |||
| I. Kutepov | |||
| Y. Zhirkov | |||
| Y. Gazinskyi | |||
| R. Zobnin | |||
| A. Samedov | |||
| A. Golovin | |||
| D. Cheryshev | |||
| A. Dzyuba |
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. Campana | |||
| M. Silva | |||
| G. Silva | |||
| M. Pereira | |||
| G. Varela | |||
| G. De Arrascaeta | |||
| C. Sanchez | |||
| C. Rodriguez | |||
| C. Stuani | |||
| M. G. Gomez | |||
| J. Urretaviscaya |
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Lunev | |||
| V Gabulov | |||
| I. Smolnikov | |||
| F. Kudryashov | |||
| V. Granat | |||
| A. Semenov | |||
| D. Kuzyaev | |||
| A. Miranchuk | |||
| Ant. Miranchuk | |||
| A. Erokhin | |||
| F. Smolov |
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| F. Muslera | |||
| N. Nandez | |||
| S. Coates | |||
| D Godin | |||
| M. Caceres | |||
| D. Laxalt | |||
| M. Vecino | |||
| L. Torreira | |||
| R. Bentancur | |||
| L. Suarez | |||
| E. Cavani |
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. Campana | |||
| M. Silva | |||
| G. Silva | |||
| M. Pereira | |||
| G. Varela | |||
| G. De Arrascaeta | |||
| C. Sanchez | |||
| C. Rodriguez | |||
| C. Stuani | |||
| M. G. Gomez | |||
| J. Urretaviscaya |
Russia
Last updated: Mon 25 June 2018 06:46Were impressive against Egypt last time out. Have already qualified for the next round. A win or draw secures top spot in the group. Aleksandr Kokorin, Giorgi Jikia and Viktor Vasin the most significant absentees from the squad. Alan Dzagoev missing, expected to be back for their round of 16 match.
Russia continued their excellent start to the competition with a comprehensive win over a dangerous Eygpt side. Stanislav Cherchesov's are already through into the final 16 which is a massive achievement for the side ranked lowest in the competition going into this tournament.
Two players have really stood out for Russia in the World Cup so far. Midefielder Denis Cheryshev has scored 3 goals so far this competition after starting the tournament on the bench. Target man striker Artem Dzyuba got his first start of the competition last time out and scored his second goal so far.
Three regulars in the lead up to the tournament Aleksandr Kokorin, Giorgi Jikia and Viktor Vasin are all out of action with long term injuries and are missing from the squad. Centre backs Jikia and Vasin's deputies have done well though. 38 year old veteran Sergey Ignashevich and Ilya Kutepov have formed a solid partnership in a defence which has conceded just a single goal so far.
Creative midfielder Alan Dzagoev looks likely to miss this match with an injury picked up in the first half of the match against Saudi Arabia. The CSKA Moscow player may feature again in the knockout stage as he is already back in light training, but this game comes too soon for him.
Even with the two excellent results behind them, Cherchesov still has some tough choices ahead of this match in terms of team selection. In attack Dzyuba has scored twice but if the plan is not to play aerial balls, then Fedor Smolov still has a chance of starting.
Cherchesov has also stated that Fedor Smolov and Alexander Golovin will both be used even though they would miss the round of 16 match if they pick up a yellow card.
Russia and Uruguay have only met each other once before - a friendly in Moscow in 2012 which ended all square at 1 - 1.
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| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Akinfeev | |||
| Mar. Fernandes | |||
| S. Ignashevich | |||
| I. Kutepov | |||
| Y. Zhirkov | |||
| Y. Gazinskyi | |||
| R. Zobnin | |||
| A. Samedov | |||
| A. Golovin | |||
| D. Cheryshev | |||
| A. Dzyuba |
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Lunev | |||
| V Gabulov | |||
| I. Smolnikov | |||
| F. Kudryashov | |||
| V. Granat | |||
| A. Semenov | |||
| D. Kuzyaev | |||
| A. Miranchuk | |||
| Ant. Miranchuk | |||
| A. Erokhin | |||
| F. Smolov |