Improbable group toppers, Russia, take on history and 56 FIFA rankings against Uruguay in Samara on Tuesday morning, 12am (AEST). Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match.
This game decides top spot in Group A and both teams will be desperate to prove their mettle going into the knock-out stages. Both Russia and Uruguay are already through with wins over both Egypt and Saudi Arabia, but with top spot on the line there is plenty to play for.
They take contrasting form into this match, despite both accumulating 6 points. Russia has been the story of the tournament so far. Their pounding of Saudi Arabia on the opening day (5-0) and canter against an Egypt team featuring Mo Salah (3-1) has defied the heavy criticism they faced before the tournament.
Russia have found stars in their forward third in playmaker Denis Cheryshev and gargantuan striker Artem Dzyuba who between them have scored 5 goals – more than 28 other entire teams in this tournament.
The secret to Russia’s success (a problematic phrase in recent years) seems to be their running power.
Russia collectively has logged an average of 116,000 metres per game so far, topping all charts.
Impressively this horse-power has come from sprinting (think Leckie not Messi). In their first game they sprinted 412 times – nearly 20 more sprints than second placed Croatia (Australia was third on that list).
The Russians are a swashbuckling team spurred by their home fans and have made their two opponents look second rate, especially in defence.
Uruguay, in contrast, entered the tournament with high expectations but has found the earth a little slower.
They have scrapped wins against the inferior Egypt and Saudi Arabia, but have barely broken out of second gear.
Their superstar front two of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani aren’t quite on the same wavelength, despite Cavani doing his best so far to step out of his team-mates shadow with excellent performances.
It is Suarez who hasn’t yet appeared at this tournament, despite snagging a tap-in in the Saudi match.
Defensively Uruguay is hard to break down and hasn’t yet conceded. Centre halves Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez – who are club team mates at Atletico Madrid – are rock solid.
With the right protection from their inexperienced central midfield, Uruguay is capable of shutting out teams with extreme prejudice.
Uruguay will believe they are a good performance away from harmonising and making a deep cup run. With other fancied teams faltering in this tournament, Uruguay should be eyeing off a semi or better.
Their fortress defensive shape and marquee forwards are all most countries need to take control of games. However, Russia has been running teams ragged and will expose Uruguay if they continue to be off-key.
Prediction
Three poor Uruguayan efforts in a row seems the least likely scenario for this tie. If Uruguay is trampled in this game the recriminations back home will be intense.
And while Russia will be inspired to keep running in this game, they will find Uruguay’s defensive wall and their ability on the counter too much.
It should be low(ish) scoring, with Uruguay having enough weaponry to put goals past the Russians.
Uruguay 2-0
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
MATCH SUMMARY Uruguay were comfortable 3-0 winners today, having too much experience and mettle for Russia who lost their chance after a red card while already two goals down. Uruguay top Group A now, which would have been the expectation before the tournament, but they will be pleased to beat a Russian team who were in hot form before this match. Russia looked nervy and a bit overawed tonight. The adrenaline that saw them overpower Egypt and Saudi Arabia turned into the jitters, and the crafty, cunning Uruguayans exploited this. The two first half goals came directly from or in the aftermath of set pieces taken expertly, while at the other end most of Russia's best chances were let down by poor final balls. The turning point was obviously the red card to Igor Smolnikov in the 36th minute. Two clumsy, unnecessary challenges lead to the two yellows which simply underlined the nerves in the Russian group. While they were already 2 goals down at that point, they were creating chances that threatened the Uruguayan goal. However losing Smolnikov and having to bring on another defender for a forward meant Uruguay could control the tempo of the game by maintaining possession - which they did with 58% of the ball. Russia created some chances after the red card but none to really push the Uruguayan collective nerve. Russia continued to transition quickly and directly to their big striker Artem Dzyuba hoping check downs, but they could not penetrate the Uruguayan back 4. Lead by Diego Godin, Uruguay were rarely outmuscled or outflanked their barnstorming opponent. When Smolnikov was lost, Russia chose to forfeit attacking midfielder Denis Cheryshev for cover in defence. This isolated Dzyubia, the primary link man, and took away any chance of winning second balls in dangerous positions. And contrary to their game plan, Russia's best chances actually came when they built up more patiently and sought to maintain some possession. It wasn't exactly a vintage performance from Uruguay, but the scoreline and interplay in the midfield - especially in the second half - will provide them a lot of confidence going into the knock-out rounds. Youthful midfielder Rodrigo Bentacur was creative throughout, getting on the start, middle and end of many plays, and Cristian Rodriguez created an immediate spark when he came on, stinging Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev's palms for fun. Extra pleasing for Uruguay will be their goalscorers. Strikers Suarez and Cavani both got on the board, bookending the scoreline to remind the competition not to take their eyes off them. While they didn't dominate their Russian opponents, their interplay both with and without the ball was sharper in this game, and is improving - ominously - game by game. Man of the match is a difficult call. It is tempting to offer it to Uruguay's Rodrigo Bentacur for his industry, but he didn't finish his excellent work as well as he could, or should, have. Therefore Diego Godin deserves the man of match for his tireless check on Artem Dzyuba and the powerful header in extra time that created the Cavani tap-in goal. So Uruguay now take on the second place finisher in Group B, while Russia take on its leader. Spain and Portugal seem the likely opponents, in any order. Uruguay will take in extreme confidence after this win, and will be a worthy challenging opponent for their Group B rivals. Although Uruguay aren't playing like World Cup winners, they have shown in today's victory that they have enough guile and tricks in their bag to both score goals and retain clean sheets.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Uruguay take this one in a canter, 3-0
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
94' - Russia win a free kick in a great area. It may be the final piece of action. And just as they've done all day, they float the pass too high and it's taken by Muslera
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
4 extra minutes here. Uruguay will make their final SUB. Cavani is off and Maxi Gomez is on for a couple of minutes.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
90' - GOAL URUGUAY! That's the third and it's Cavani. From the corner forced by Rodriguez, Godin thunders a header at Akinfeev and Cavani gets the tap in. Excellent 10 minutes from Uruguay richly rewarded
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
90' - AND A FANTASTIC SAVE at the other end, as Uruguay's Rodriguez lashes a shot that Akinfeev tips wide. You can't give that man any space!
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
89' - A good chance for Russia wasted. Dzyuba wins a free kick after a clobbering from Godin, but the ensuing free kick just floats out for a goal kick. They needed a better effort there, Russia
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
87' - And it's Cavani who forces the SAVE at the other end! And the resulting corner is hit directly at goal and forces a diving save from Akinfeev! It's been a fiery few minutes
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
86' - A chance for Russia at the other end! Smolov is through on the left but can't find someone in space with his cut back
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
84' - Another near CHANCE for Uruguay. A well taken corner hit to the perfect spot, but defender Caceras can't get his head to it. He was 5 yards out and it would have been the simplest of tap ins.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
82' - SHOT SAVED by Russian goal keeper Akinfeev. Substitute Rodriguez hits a pile driver right at him from 35 yards. It's easily saved but worth the go from Rodriguez as the Russian defenders parted for him
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
80' - It's nearly a third for Uruguay.... it should have been worked better. An awful error from Russia plays Cavani in in his own half, and he works Suarez in with a 2 on 2 but Suarez can't quite work the ball back to his strike partner for the easy tap in.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
79' - A half chance for Uruguay - a ball whipped into Cavani's near post but it's just over his head.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Uruguayan midfielder Torreira looks to be in some trouble. He limps off with a calf which improves rapidly as he reaches the touchline. He'll be waved on again shortly
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
15 minutes left in this game, and credit to Russia for continuing to take Uruguay on
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
74' - A FANTASTIC CHANCE for Russia spurned! That really should have been converted. Uruguayan keeper Muslera miss-hits his pass and it's gobbled up by Russia who clear and find Dzyuba in the box. He cuts back to his left but hits it horribly wide
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
73' - Another SUB for Uruguay. Cristian Rodriguez is on - he started the last game, and Nandez is off
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Nothing to see here from VAR
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
71' - Carnage in the Russian box! An aerial contest that sees Dzyuba throwing himself around and, ultimately, onto the turf. VAR are checking it but it looks like ran into Godin
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
69' -CHANCE for Cavani. He cuts into the box on a run but can't curl his shot on target