The biggest news from the game is that Mohamad Salah is expected to start as Egypt take on Uruguay in the Group B match today at 6:00 pm Bangladesh time.
If Salah does not play a part in this game, Egypt will be considerablly less threatening in attack and that can only mean that Uruguay will have the opportunity to establish authority over Hector Cooper's team. Lets take a look at the expected starting lineups and how the teams usually play ahead of the key Group A clash.
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Anyone who has seen Oscar Tabarez’s Uruguay, knows that they are a difficult team to score against. When they go forward, it is all about giving the ball to strikers Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani.
The full backs rarely venture forward and do so when it is absolutely necessary. Known as a tough side, Uruguay has so far been mostly combative rather than creative in midfield. That changed with the emergence of players such as Federico Valverde (Deportivo La Coruna on loan from Real Madrid), Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus), Nahitan Nández (Boca Juniors) and Matias Vecino (Internazionale) forced Tabárez to change his approach.
While Tabarez still employs a 4-4-2 formation, the midfield now treats the ball better, thus improving the service to Cavani and Suarez.
Expect Uruguay to try and work the ball through a defensive minded Egypt team in their matchup today.
Players to watch: Cavani, Suarez
Egypt
Egypt are very much a defensive side even with star Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah in their team. Their Argentine coach Hector Cooper employs a 4-2-3-1 formation with two defensive midfielders Mohamed Elneny and Tarek Hamed, who sit deep to thwart the opposition strikers from finding space.
Egypt have tall towering centre-backs --Hegazi and Gabr has an average height of 1.95m and who are so often praised for their defensive acumen.
However, Egypt have been known to concede baffling goals and there is a weakness when defending cross. Suarez and Cavani may have likely taken note already.
Egypt mainly relies on the off-the ball movement of their forwards and going forward they heavily rely on their star man Salah. Their aim is not to retain possession but to pierce the opponent’s defensive line with Salah or someone else running in behind.
Salah either receives the ball in behind the defence, providing an immediate goal-scoring threat, or he drops slightly to receive the ball in a wide position, creating a situation where he can dribble and isolate against the opposing full-back.
Players to watch: Salah, El-Said
Prediction: Not many goals in this match. The game will be decided by how the key players perform.
The last and only time the two sides met was in 2006, when Uruguay overcame Egypt 2-0.
Score: Uruguay 2-1 Egypt
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