Uruguay and Russia, both competing for top shot in Group A, has the potential to be one of the best matches of this World Cup yet.
However, caution must be exercises. The problem with being overly successful where your rivals have faltered has come back to haunt this season. PSG found this out the hard-way after storming their Champions League group ahead of Bayern Munich. Whilst Les Parisiens were subsequently crushed in the Last-16 by eventual champions Real Madrid, Bayern Munich were granted relatively easy passage all the way to the semi-finals to be defeated by the same opponents.
Both teams will want to avoid this happening again.
The match between Uruguay and Russia kicks off simultaneously with the other game in Group A, at 3pm (BST) at the Samara Arena
Uruguay
To say that Uruguay haven’t been entirely convincing so far in this World Cup tournament would be an understatement. With the two-headed prong of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, a thoroughly humiliating rout of Saudi Arabia was expected following the Golden Eagles massacre to hosts Russia. Instead, Uruguay marginally edged the three-points with a mediocre one-nil, the second successive match of this result. A more attractive performance to match their defensive capabilities will be expected.
Players To Watch
Although Uruguay may not have been the most exhilarating to watch, goalkeeper Fernando Muslera is well on his way to obtaining the Golden Glove for clean-sheets kept within the World Cup. He’ll have a harder task than the games previous against blunted opponents. He’ll be facing a Russia side who are current job top-scorers in the competition.
Edinson Cavani is yet to score. PSG’S all-time top scorer will want to get off the mark to help Uruguay compete for their third World Cup victory.
Absences
Predicted Line-Up:
Fernando Muslera - Martin Caceres - Jose Maria Gimenez - Diego Godin - Guillermo Varela - Matias Vecino - Rodrigo Bentancur - Carlos Sanchez - Cristian Rodriguez - Luis Suarez - Edinson Cavani
Russia
Russia have admittedly blown everyone away and the cynicism has evaporated following two stellar performances in their opening group games to ease them into the knock-out rounds. Even though a different last sixteen game awaits, with Spain or Portugal the likely opponents, Russia will want to finish the group stages at the very top.
Players To Watch
Midfielder Denis Cheryshev has been lighting up this World Cup, and is currently competing alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Costa in the Golden Boot table and has pushed Fedor Smolov out. Continued performances are bound to attract suitors for the Zenit St Petersburg forward from clubs across the continent after the tournament’s completion.
Absences
Yuri Zhirkov is doubtful with a thigh injury.
Predicted Line-Up
Igor Akinfeev - Yuri Zhirkov - Sergei Ignashevich - Ilya Kutepov - Mario Fernandes - Roman Zobnin - Yuri Gazinskiy - Denis Cheryshev - Aleksandri Golovin - Aleksandr Samedov - Artem Dzyuba
Did You Know?
Russia have scored more goals in this World Cup than they had in their previous two World Cup tournaments combined (6, across 2002 and 2014).
Prediction: Uruguay 1-1 Russia
You can follow the match live with The Sportsman below.
