Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani lead Uruguay attack against Russia, confusion over Mohamed Salah
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ByEurosport
Updated 25/06/2018 at 13:38 GMT
Team news for the final round of games in Group A with Russia meeting Uruguay and Egypt playing for pride against Saudi Arabia.
Luis Suárez
Image credit: Getty Images
URUGUAY V RUSSIA
Russia and Uruguay battle for top spot in Group A with Saudi Arabia and Egypt already eliminated.
Russia only need a draw to win the group having scored eight goals in their victories over Saudi Arabia and Egpyt in their opening two games.
Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani lead the Uruguay attack the World Cup hosts.
Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera will win his 100th cap for Uruguay.
He will also break his nation's record for World Cup appearances, with 14.
Sebastian Coates comes in for the injured Jose Gimenez in defence as Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez makes four changes for the clash.
With both teams already qualified for the last 16, Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov also chose to make three changes to the side that beat Egypt 3-1.
Aleksei Miranchuk replaces Aleksandr Golovin whilst Igor Smolnikov and Fyodor Kudryashov come in as full backs.
The winner and runner-up of this group is likely to face Spain or Portugal in the last 16 on Saturday and Sunday.
“We have to work on a few aspects," said Tabarez. "We will be playing against Russia. They’re playing at home for their public, so it will be a great atmosphere."
“It’s a great opportunity for us to test improvements in the team.”
Teams
- Uruguay: Muslera, Caceres, Coates, Godin, Laxalt, Nandez, Torreira, Vecino, Bentancur, Suarez, Cavani
- Russia: Akinfeev, Smolnikov, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Kurdjasov, Samedov, Gazinskiy, Miranchuk, Zobnin, Cheryshev, Dzyuba
EGYPT V SAUDI ARABIA
Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah will start Egypt's dead rubber against Saudi Arabia in Volgograd after initially been left out in the team-sheet tweeted.
The Egyptian FA announced Salah was out of the match before they updated the team selection with Salah - who is recovering from damaging his shoulder in the Champions League final last month - back in to replaced Amr Warda.
Salah scored a penalty in the tournament-ending 3-1 defeat by Russia, but looked far from full fitness.
The Egyptian FA have been forced to deny claims Salah is considering his international future because apparently the player is unhappy at being used in politics.
Salah's presence had been the subject of speculation following media reports the talismanic player was on the verge of quitting international football after unwittingly becoming a publicity pawn for the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov.
Egypt also gave 45 year-old keeper Essam El-Hadary a chance to become the oldest ever player to appear at a World Cup.
Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia lost their first two games and will be hoping to pocket an elusive win avoid finishing bottom of the group.
Teams
- Saudi Arabia: Almosailem, Osama, Alburayk, Salman, Hatan, Yasser, Otayf, Hussain, Salmen, Fahad, Motaz
- Egypt: Elhadary; Ali Gabr, Hegazy, Fathi, Tarek Hamed, Marwan, Salah, Abdelshafy, Elneny, Abdalla, Treziguet
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