The 2018 FIFA World Cup is set to start in just over two weeks, when hosts Russia will take on Saudi Arabia in the opening match at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
With the best of world football showcasing their talents, this bonanza will certainly entertain fans around the world.
While Netherlands and Italy will be missed, faithfuls will want another Costa Rica story (Underdogs defying odds) at this World Cup.
Fans around the world will want Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to perform well in what is likely to be their last world cup.
In this set of articles, we will preview the eight groups of the tournament. It can help us provide insights in predicting how the world cup will shape.
Group A
Egypt (29-man preliminary squad was announced on 13th May 2018)
Goalkeepers: Essam El- Hadary (Captain) (Al Taawoun), Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly), Mohamed Awad (Ismaily), Mohamed El- Shenawy (Al Ahly)
Defenders: Ahmed Fathy (Al Ahly), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Mohamed Abdel- Shafy (Al Fateh), Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich Albion), Omar Gaber (Los Angeles FC), Ali Gabr (West Bromwich Albion), Saad Samir (Al Ahly), Karim Hafez (Lens), Ayman Ashraf (Al Ahly), Amro Tarek (Orlando City), Mahamoud Hamdy (Zamalek)
Midfielders: Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Abdallah Said (KuPS), Shikabala (Al Raed), Trézéguet (Kasımpaşa), Ramadan Sobhi Stoke City), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Kahraba (Al Ittihad), Amr Warda (Atromitos), Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic), Mahmoud Abdel Aziz (Zamalek)
Forwards: Mohammad Salah (Liverpool), Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly), Ahmed Hassan Kouka (Braga), Ahmed Gomaa (Al Masry)
Manager: Hector Cuper (Argentina)
Returning to World Cup football after 28 years, Egypt’s fortunes hinge on the fitness of Mohammad Salah. The mercurial forward scored 44 times and assisted further 16 to lead Liverpool FC to Champions League final. However, dislocated shoulder in a clash against Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos has brought his World Cup participation in doubt.
Led by goalkeeper El-Hadary, Egypt are placed in a good group A against Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and hosts Russia.
They failed to win a single match in their last appearance in 1990. While they will hope to muster results against Russia and Saudi, Egypt can find themselves struggling if Salah fails to be fit in time.
With having as many as six players playing in England’s Premier League, Egypt have a strong mix of experience with youth. Even in absence of Salah, they can be the dark horses to qualify from this group.
Over last few editions of African Cup of Nations, Egypt have been one of the consistent performers. Their fans and players will love to leave a mark on the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Mohamed Salah. (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Russia (28-man preliminary squad was announced on 14th May 2018)-
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (Captain) (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Club Brugge), Andrey Lunyov (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Soslan Dzhanayev (Rubin Kazan),
Defenders: Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Fyodor Kudryashov (Rubin Kazan), Vladimir Granat (Rubin Kazan), Roman Neustädter (Fenerbahçe), Andrei Semyonov (Akhmat Grozny), Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow), Konstantin Rausch (Dynamo Moscow), Mário Fernandes (CSKA Moscow)
Midfielders: Yuri Zhirkov (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Aleksandr Samedov (Spartak Moscow), Aleksandr Golovin (CSKA Moscow), Aleksandr Yerokhin (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Denis Cheryshev (Villarreal), Roman Zobnin (Spartak Moscow), Yury Gazinsky (Krasnodar), Daler Kuzyayev (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Anton Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Aleksandr Tashayev (Dynamo Moscow)
Forwards: Fyodor Smolov (Krasnodar), Artem Dzyuba (Arsenal Tula), Aleksei Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Fyodor Chalov (CSKA Moscow)
Coach: Stanislav Cherchesov
The opening clash of World Cup 2018 will pit hosts Russia against Saudi Arabia.
Captained by experienced Igor Akinfeev, their fortunes will rest on Yuri Zhirkov, Denis Cheryshev and Alan Dzagoev.
Hosting this world cup meant that Russia did not have to play European qualifiers. However, their underwhelming performances at last year’s Confederations Cup drew flak. Doubts were raised about their qualification to this tournament had they not been the hosts.
Alongside Uruguay, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the Russians find themselves in one of the easier groups. With Uruguay favourites to qualify, 19th June clash between Russia and Egypt may decide the second qualifier from Group A. With a possibility of Mohammad Salah missing out, Russia may be the favourites to reach the next round alongside Uruguay.
This year marks 10th anniversary of one of the finest moments in Russian football’s modern history. It was 2008 European Championship when they reached semi-finals of European Championships under the managership of Gus Hiddink and captaincy of Sergei Semak.
It may be far-fetched, but Russian fans will love its encore in this world cup.
Saudi Arabia (A 28-man preliminary squad was announced on 17 May 2018)-
Goalkeepers: Yasser Al Mosailem (Al Ahli), Assaf Al Qarni (Al Ittihad), Abdullah Al-Mayouf (Al Hilal), Mohammed Al Owais (Al Ahli)
Defenders: Osama Hawsawi (captain) (Al Hilal), Omar Hawsawi (Al Nassr), Mansoor Al Harbi (Al Ahli), Yasser Al Shahrani (Al Hilal), Motaz Hawsawi (Al Ahli), Saeed Al Mowalad (Al Ahli), Mohammed Al Breik (Al Hilal), Mohammed Jahfali (Al Hilal), Ali Al Bulaihi (Al Hilal)
Midfielders: Taisir Al Jassim (Al Ahli), Yahya Al Shehri (Leganes), Nawaf Al Abed (Al Hilal), Salman Al Faraj (Al Hilal), Abdulmarek Al Khaibri (Al Hilal), Salem Al Dawsari (Villarreal), Housain Al Mogahwi (Al Ahli), Abdullah Otayf (Al Hilal), Mohamed Kanno (Al Hilal), Mohammed Al Kwikbi (Al Ettifaq), Abdullah Al Khaibari (Al Shabab), Hattan Bahebri (Al Shabab)
Attackers: Fahad Al Muwallad (Levante), Mohammad Al Sahlawi (Al Nassr), Muhannad Assiri (Al Ahli)
Coach: Juan Antonio Pizzi
Retaining a cloud of unpredictability, Saudi Arabia will hope to do a Costa Rica in Russia 2018. While their deal with Spanish La Liga clubs to send players on loan has not borne best results, players like Al Muwallad will want to use this tournament and become a household name. The winger, called as ‘Saudi Messi’ will hold key to this team’s fortunes.
While they are placed in a good group, it will be tough for them to register a win in this world cup. They have the chance to be the kingmaker of this group.
Possible absence of Mohammad Salah has opened the door for them. If Saudi Arabia can get four points in their games against Russia and Egypt, they can fancy themselves to reach the knockouts.
Saudi return to world cup football after a gap of 16 years. They had a nightmarish World Cup 2002 with an elimination in the group stage following an 8-0 drubbing by Germany.
While Saudi players will want to erase those memories and write a new chapter in their football history, it will be an uphill task for the Arabians to qualify to the knockouts.
Uruguay (A 26-man preliminary squad was announced on 15 May 2018)
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco Da Gama), Martin Campana (Independiente)
Defenders: Maxi Pereira (Porto), Diego Godin (Captain) (Atletico Madrid), Martin Cacares (Lazio), Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Sporting CP), Gaston Silva (Independiente), Guillermo Varela (Penarol)
Midfielders: Cristian Rodriguez (Penarol), Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC), Gaston Ramirez (Sampdoria), Carlos Sanchez (Monterrey), Matias Vecino (Inter Milan), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro), Nahitan Nandez (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus), Diego Laxalt (Genoa), Federico Valverde (Deportivo La Courna), Jonathan Urretaviscaya (Monterrey), Lucas Torreira (Sampdoria)
Forwards: Edinson Cavani (PSG), Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Cristhian Stuani (Girona), Maxi Gomez (Celta Vigo)
Coach: Oscar Tabarez
One of the most consistent teams in recent years, Uruguay should find it easy to qualify to the next round. They won’t have asked for a favourable draw. They will lick their lips on the prospects of reaching the knockouts.
Led by experienced Diego Godin, Uruguay have heaps of talent in Suarez, Cavani, Vecino, Lodeiro, and Muslera. In Bentancur and Gimenez, they also possess two of the most talented youngsters in European club football.
Uruguay’s Luis Suarez (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)
If they qualify from the group, they will be a difficult team to beat with a good combination of experience and youth. Uruguay will want to go better than 2010 when they finished fourth. The team will want to perform well for 71-year-old Oscar Tabarez who may relinquish his duties after the World Cup.
This tournament is an opportunity for Luis Suarez to go away from the infamy of 2010 (quarter-final handball against Ghana) and bite- scandal against Italy during 2014 World Cup. He will want to lead Uruguay from the front and take them deep into the competition.
Likely qualifiers from this group
1) Uruguay
2) Egypt
Likely qualifiers from this group if Salah misses out
1) Uruguay
2) Russia
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