PREVIEW Group A: Uruguay - Saudi Arabia
Uruguay are aiming to qualify from Group A in 2018 and go into a knock-out phase with a victory over Saudi Arabia at Rostov Arena on Wednesday (20/6).
However, for Saudi Arabia this is a live-off match because in the inaugural match of the group, they were rushed Russia with the score 5-0. The Green Falcons will be eliminated if swallowed defeat in the hands of Uruguay.
Uruguay have a tough start in the 2018 World Cup. Facing Egypt, they finally earned three full points thanks to a late goal scored by Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez.
Uruguay has a very good defense with the performance of Diego Godin et al. But, talented midfield inhabited Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus) and Matias Vecino (Inter Milan) failed to connect with the front lines. Even so, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani have some good chances. Unfortunately, the Barcelona star had failed to make the opponent goalkeeper difficult.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia suffered a bad start on their return to the World Cup after 12 absences. The 5-0 defeat at the hands of Russia was the second hardest in this competition after having slaughtered Germany by a score of 8-0 in 2002.
Coach Jose Antonio Pizzi has an easy task to motivate foster children, especially when against Uruguay, which has many world-class players.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez appears to have chosen Rodrigo Bentancur, Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Nahitan Nandez as a starter in the midfield sector, although the three players have not been impressive yet.
It would be interesting if Tabarez put up one of the two experienced players, Carlos Sánchez and Cristian Rodríguez. The coach is likely to remain in defense sector formation, as do the forward duets, Suarez and Cavani.
The concern that Pizzi feels is the performance of Mohammad Al-Sahlawi. The national team's top scorer has not scored more than a year and he has difficulty getting enough touch in Russia's game. Most likely he will be replaced Muhannad Assiri or Fahad Al-Muwallad.
On paper, the unseeded Uruguayan could win this match to accompany Russia, who have already qualified from the group after a 3-1 win over Egypt in the second leg on Tuesday (19/6).
FORECASTING PLAYERS
Uruguay XI (4-4-2): Muslera - Caceres, Godin, Gimenez, Varela - Rodriguez, Vecino, Bentancur, Nandez - Cavani, Suarez.
Saudi Arabia XI (4-1-4-1): Muaiouf - Al-Harbi, Omar Hawsawi, Osama Hawsawi, Al-Shahrani - Otayf - Al-Shehri, Al-Jassim, Al-Faraj, Al-Dawsari - Muhannad Assiri.
DO YOU KNOW?
This is the third meeting between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia and the first in the World Cup. Saudi Arabia are unbeaten in their last two meetings in a test match held at home (W1 D1).
This is Saudi Arabia's 15th meeting at the World Cup against opponents from South America.
Uruguay won all the matches in the last three matches against Asian representatives, scoring five goals and conceding just one goal (including a victory in 1970 against Israel, still part of the AFC).
Saudi Arabia has always been a key caretaker in their performances in the last three World Cup editions, their best performance in 1994 (losing to Sweden in the last 16).
Uruguay are eyeing a victory in their first two World Cup matches since last doing it in 1954.
Saudi Arabia have always failed to score in eight of their last ten World Cup games. They can not even create a single shot on goal against Russia in the opening match.
Saudi Arabia has 14 times conceded through an opponent's header in the World Cup since their debut in 1994, more than any other team in the same period.
Uruguay only lost once from their last nine matches in the World Cup (W5 D3), winning five times from the last six games.
If Luis Suarez gets a minute to play in the game, then he has carved out his 100th appearance with Uruguay and became the sixth player to achieve the achievement.
José Giménez's goal against Egypt (89:01) was a late winning goal that Uruguay carved out in the World Cup since Daniel Fonseca did it against South Korea in 1990 (91:01).