World Cup 2018: Group A Preview

As the domestic season comes to a close attention is quickly turning to the fast approaching World Cup in Russia.

In order to get you ready for the month-long festival of football Marking The Spot will provide you with in-depth previews of each group highlighting the players to watch in Russia this summer.

Without further adieu lets begin with Group A.

 

RUSSIA

Since succeeding the Soviet Union on the international stage, Russia have never progressed beyond the first round of the World Cup. Previously, the greatest achievement of the former Soviet union was finishing fourth at the finals in England in 1966.

History is with Stanislave Cherchesov’s side. Only once since the launch of the World Cup in 1930 has the host nation failed to progress beyond the group stages. That was South Africa in 2010.

One of the challenges for a host nation is the absence of competitive match action in the run-up to the finals. Coaches of all the other finalist nations have benefited from the enforced opportunity to hone their player selection and team tactics in the struggle to secure their placed in the finals.

Thus last year’s Confederations Cup was an important competitive stepping stone for Russia and Cherchesov. His work was handicapped by injuries to several senior players. However, the Sbornaya opened the tournament in positive fashion with a 2-0 win over New Zealand in front of a supportive capacity crowd in Saint Petersburg. Russian President Vladimir Putin was on hand to see the hosts claim what proved their sole success of the tournament courtesy of a first-half own goal from Michael Boxall and a close-range second-half strike from forward Fyodor Smolov.

Victory was of welcome significance following Russia’s elimination at the group stage of EURO 2016. There, Smolov and attacking right-back Aleksandr Samedov were outstanding against New Zealand. The striker summed up the squad’s wider ambition as “wanting to make our supporters and people throughout the country fall in love with the national team during this Confederations Cup.”

The Russian team’s second outing, however, brought a narrow 1-0 defeat to European Champions Portugal in a game that saw captain Igor Akinfeev make his 100th international appearance in goal. Hopes of making the semi-finals were then extinguished by Mexico in Kazan. Russia lost 2-1 despite taking an early lead through Samedov.

Cherchesov, reviewing the campaign, said that he was proud of his recast team “for doing as much as they could in the circumstances”, which included the need to rely on an internationally inexperienced trio in central defence in Georgy Dzhikiya, Viktor Vasin and Fyodor Kudryashov.

Looking ahead he said: “I hope all the player will use the experience to grow and develop. I think they have won the hearts and minds among our fans and given reason for confidence going forward. I don’t think any of our fans could have any doubts that the team played their hearts out. We managed to play some good football right from the start so that showed we are making steps in the right direction.

“What remains in preparing for the World Cup is to continue to work as we have been and connect the sporting dots.”

Russia will look to rely on their experienced elder statesmen to guide their rising stars at the tournament. The home support could prove vital and although history maybe on their side you wouldn’t bet against them becoming only the second host nation to be knocked out at the group stage.

The Coach – Stanislav Cherchesov

Stanislav Cherchesov, 54, was a fine goalkeeper who played for Russia at the 1994 and 2002 World Cup finals on his was to winning 39 international caps. His club career involved four spells with FC Spartak Moscow and experience abroad with Dynamo Dresden and Tirol Innsbruck. He took up coaching in Austria after retiring and returned to Russia with Spartak in 2007. Cherchesov was appointed manager of Russia in succession to Leonid Slutsky in 2016 after successful club appointments with Spartak, Zhemchuzhina Sochi, Terek Grozny, Amkar Perm, Dynamo Moscow and Legia Warsaw. He took positives out of last year’s Confederations Cup but faces his toughest managerial test this summer.

Record at previous tournaments:

As the Soviet Union:

• 1930-54 Did not enter
• 1958 Quarter-finals
• 1962 Quarter-finals
• 1966 4th place
• 1970 Quarter-finals
• 1974 Did not qualify
• 1978 Did not qualify
• 1982 2nd round
• 1986 Last 16
• 1990 Group stages

As Russia:

• 1994 Group stages
• 1998 Did not qualify
• 2002 Group stages
• 2006 Did not qualify
• 2010 Did not qualify
• 2014 Group stages

SAUDI ARABIA 

The Saudi FA was founded in 1959 and the national team celebrated initial honours by winning the 1984 and 1988 Asian titles. They maintained the good work by investing heavily in foreign coaching expertise and building the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, which hosted the inaugural Confederations Cup (then known as the King Fahd Cup) in 1992.

That commitment to the game paid off in another Asian title in 1996 amid a hat-trick of World Cup appearances in 1994, 1998 and 2002. In 1994 under Argentinian coach Jorge Solari, Saudi Arabia beat Belgium and Morocco in the group stages before losing to Sweden in the last 16. The 1-0 win over Belgium was achieved with one of the most brilliant goals in World Cup history by Saeed Al-Owairan, advancing from his own half.

In 2002, Saudi Arabia were defeated 8-0 by Germany in their first group game and exited the tournament after failing to pick up either a point or a goal. The Saudi FA promised a major overhaul of the domestic game and their efforts have been rewarded with their return to the finals.

Saudi history includes some of the most iconic players in the Asian game, including Mohamed Al-Deayea and Majed Abdullah. Al-Deayea played in goal in four World Cups and between 1993 and 2006, made 178 appearances, a record for a goalkeeper.

At the other end of the pitch Saudi Arabia were inspired for years by Abdullah, the so-called “desert Pelé”. Abdullah ranks among the greatest marksmen in national team football history after scoring 115 goals for his country during an era in which he was voted Asian Footballer of the Year on three occasions.

The baton has been passed to successors such as goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah, captain Osama Hawsawi, fellow defensive stalwart Hassan Muath, midfielders Taisir Al-Jassim and Yahya Al-Shehri plus striker Mohammed Al-Sahlawi. Both Hawsawi and Al-Jassim have played more than 120 international games since making their debuts 11 years ago.

Saudi Arabia were seeded directly to the second round of the Asian qualifying competition, where they topped Group A ahead of the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Malaysia and Timor-Leste.

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk saw his Saudi team top the table with six wins and two draws and a commanding goal difference of 28-4. The match in Malaysia was abandoned near the end because of objects thrown onto the pitch. The Saudis, 2-1 ahead at the time, were awarded a 3-0 by FIFA.

Some 17 of Saudi’s goals in two ties against Timor-Leste. Al-Sahlawi scored a hat-trick in a 7-0 win at home in Jeddah and five in the 10-0 away victory in Dili. He was the round’s leading scorer with 14 goals, followed by Al-Shehri with three.

In the third round, the Saudis qualified for the finals by virtue of finishing runners-up to Japan in Group B, edging Australia on goal difference. A 1-0 win over Japan on the last matchday, through a second-half strike from Fahad Al-Murwallad, proved decisive as, simultaneously the Australians managed to defeat Thailand by only 2-1 and thus failed to edge into second spot.

Saudi Arabia have impressed in qualifying and boast a squad full of international experience. Crucially though this experience comes against far weaker opposition to what they will face in Russia. They may prove tricky to break down but it is hard to look past anything other than a group stage exit for the Green Falcons.

The Coach – Juan Antonio Pizzi

Juan Antonio Pizzi took over as manager of Saudi Arabia after the end of the nation’s successful qualifying campaign. The 49-year-old succeeded Argentinian Edgardo Bauza, who had taken over months earlier from Dutchman Bert van Marwijk. Pizzi played as a centre-forward for Spain in the 1990s, scoring eight goals in 22 matches. He then coached clubs in his native Argentina, Chile, Spain and Mexico before being appointed manager of Chile in 2016. He guided them to victory in the centenary Copa América in 2016 and to the final of the Confederations Cup in Russia last year. He watched Chile lose the final to Germany before his side failed to qualify for the World Cup. He reigned from his role with Chile before he was appointed by the Saudi FA.

Record at previous tournaments:

• 1930 Did not exist
• 1934 Not in membership
• 1938 Not in membership
• 1950 Not in membership
• 1954 Not in membership
• 1958 Not in membership 
• 1962 Did not enter
• 1966 Did not enter
• 1970 Did not enter
• 1974 Did not enter
• 1978 Did not qualify
• 1982 Did not qualify
• 1986 Did not qualify
• 1990 Did not qualify
• 1994 Last 16
• 1998 Group stages
• 2002 Group stages
• 2006 Group stages
• 2010 Did not qualify
• 2014 Did not qualify

EGYPT

Egypt have waited impatiently to reclaim their place at the World Cup. In fact, this will be the Pharaohs’ first appearance in the finals since Italia 90. On that occasion, their campaign ended behind England, the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands in a highly competitive group played out in Sardinia and Sicily. The team coached by Mahmoud El-Gohary drew with both the Dutch and Irish before losing by a single goal to eventual semi-finalists England.

Egypt boasts a long, proud history in the regional and international game. The Egyptian Football Association was founded in 1921 and became the first African nation to join FIFA in 1923. They were also one of the four founder members of the Confédération Africaine de Football on its creation in 1957.

By that stage they could already point to international achievement. Egypt  had finished fourth in the football tournament at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam and entered the World Cup for the first time in 1934, when they defeated Palestine in a qualifying play-off before losing to Hungary 4-2 in the first round of the finals in Italy.

Egypt won the inaugural Africa Cup of Nations, in Sudan in 1957, and the second edition, as hosts, two years later. They were Olympic semi-finalists again in 1964, finished third in the Cup of Nations in 1970 and 1974, finished fourth in 1976 and reached the Olympic quarter-finals in 1984. Throughout all these years, for various reasons, Egypt remained absent from the grand stage of the World Cup but finally brought a 56-year absence to an end in 1990.

A further absence of 24 years then followed, during which, even so, Egypt won the Cup of Nations on a further four occasions to reach their current record of seven successes. Two domestic clubs have similar international success: Al Ahly have won 20 international competitions as well as a record 39 national championships and 36 cups while old rivals Zamalek boast 11 Afro-Asian titles plus 12 domestic league crowns and 25 domestic cups.

Egypt’s latest attempt to end their luckless pursuit of World Cup qualification began with a second-round direct elimination tie against Chad. They lost the away leg 1-0 but turned the tie around with a 4-0 home victory in the second leg in Alexandria. Mohamed Elneny struck the opening goal after just five minutes to point Egypt towards the finals. Abdallah Said scored the second with Hassan Mahgoub, from Portugal’s SC Braga, claiming two more.

Victory propelled Egypt into the third round, comprising five groups whose winners would qualify for the finals. Egypt were in Group E alongside Uganda, Ghana and Congo and made the perfect start with a 2-1 win away to Congo, thanks to goals from star striker Mohamed Salah and Said again. The same pair struck again to provide a follow-up 2-0 home win over Ghana.

Salah struck two more goals in the 2-1 home win over Congo, which secured Egypt’s place in the finals with one round of matches still to play. Finally the Pharaohs were back in the World Cup finals, a special achievement for ecstatic home fans following various difficulties within the domestic game.

Supporters had been barred from attending domestic league matches after crowd problems including the Port Said tragedy in which 74 people died in 2012.

Egypt are a well oiled unit that produced results when it mattered during qualification. Inspired by Mohamed Salah this Egyptian side is full of confidence and coach Héctor Cúper has targeted a place in the last 16 as their major goal. They’ll take confidence from reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations last year and look set to battle Uruguay for top spot in this group. Anything beyond the last 16 will be seen as a huge success for the Pharaohs.

The Coach – Héctor Cúper

Héctor Cúper, 62, is one of the most experienced and widely travelled coaches at this year’s World Cup. The Argentinian was twice a national championship winner as a central defender with Ferro Carril Oeste. He moved to Huracán before becoming a coaching and moving to European football with Real Mallorca. Further appointments followed in Spain, Italy and Greece before Cúper progressed to national team football, initially with Georgia and then, in 2015, Egypt. Cúper took the team to the runners-up slot at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations before achieving qualification for Russia.

Record at previous tournaments:

• 1930 Did not enter
• 1934 1st round
• 1938 Withdrew
• 1950 Did not enter 
• 1954 Did not qualify
• 1958 Withdrew
• 1962 Withdrew
• 1966 Withdrew
• 1970 Did not enter
• 1974 Did not qualify
• 1978 Did not qualify
• 1982 Did not qualify
• 1986 Did not qualify
• 1990 Group stages
• 1994 Did not qualify
• 1998 Did not qualify
• 2002 Did not qualify
• 2006 Did not qualify
• 2010 Did not qualify
• 2014 Did not qualify 

URUGUAY 

Uruguay are one of the greatest nations in World Cup history, feared for an ability to raise their game on the greatest stage. As two-time champions the Celeste will be dangerous rivals for anyone in Russia.

Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani are two of the most outstanding strikers in international football, and have considerable World Cup experience and more than 90 goals between them at national-team level. They combined for 15 of Uruguay’s 32 goals in the South American qualifying campaign to extend their small country’s great footballing heritage.

Uruguay dominated world football in the first half of the twentieth century. Early successes in the South American Championship were followed by victory in the 1924 Olympics in Amsterdam. Uruguay repeated the success in Paris in 1928 and then two years later, as the host nation, swept to victory in the first World Cup.

The side of the 1920s and 1930s contained many of Uruguay’s all-time greats: skipper José Nasazzi, the half-backs José Andrade, Lorenzo Fernández and Álvaro Gestido, and outstanding forwards in Héctor Castro, José Pedro Cea and Héctor Scarone.

In 1950, Uruguay reclaimed their status as top of the world defeating hosts Brazil 2-1 in the final in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium. Now their inspirations were inside forward Juan Schiaffino, wing-half Victor Andrade, captain and centre-half Obduilo Varela plus match-winner Alcides Ghigga on the right.

They finished fourth in 1954 and 1970 but subsequent World Cups proved largely disappointing despite the efforts of star forwards such as Fernando Morena and Enzo Francescoli. Finally, in 2010, the inspiration of Suárez and Diego Forlán lifted Uruguay back into the last four for the first time in 40 years. They followed that up by winning the Copa América in 2011, for a record 15th time.

In the old days, Uruguay’s squad was built around the players of Montevideo’s two great clubs, Club Atlético Penarol and Nacional, who have dominated the domestic game and collected a host of international trophies. Now, coach Oscar Washington Tabárez can draw his squad from a wide range of clubs in Argentina, Brazil, France, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

They boast vast experience, with several players boasting a century or more of international caps – including goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, defenders such as captain Diego Godín and Maxi Pereira, midfielder Cristian Rodríguez and stikers Cavani and Suárez.

The South American qualifying campaign involved all ten members of the regional confederation, CONMEBOL. Uruguay got off to a positive start with a run of victories over Bolivia, Colombia and Chile punctuated by defeat in Ecuador. Impressively, goals from Cavani and Suárez secured a 2-2 draw away to Brazil before Cavani struck the lone winner at home to Peru.

Defeat in Argentina preceded victories over Paraguay and Venezuela, but then came three successive defeats away to Chile, home to Brazil and away to Peru, which left the Celeste in danger of not making it to Russia. Home to Bolivia, they regained winning form just when it mattered most. Goals from Martin Cáceres, Cavani and a brace from Suárez saw Uruguay finish as runners-up to Brazil and safely on their way to Russia.

This Uruguay squad is solid from the front to the back. The experience of captain Godín at the top level allows their star strikers freedom up top. The Celeste will be favourites to top this group and should be able to see off their biggest challenger in the form of Egypt. A quarter-final place is not beyond their reach but anything beyond that would be exceeding even their own fans wildest dreams.

The Coach – Óscar Washington Tabárez

Óscar Tabárez, 71, is one of the world’s longest-serving national managers after 12 years in this his second spell in the Uruguay job. These years have included two awards as South American Coach of the Year, victory at the 2011 Copa América and fourth place at the 2010 World Cup. A teacher, Tabárez was a defender who played his club football in Uruguay and Mexico, and then coached top clubs in Colombia, Italy and Argentina. Tabárez holds a South American managerial record: 60 matches in World Cup qualifiers. He is also the fifth ranked manager, with 26 games in five editions of the Copa América. He is also credited for overseeing an enormously successful under-20 project.

Record at previous tournaments:

• 1930 Champions
• 1934 Did not enter
• 1938 Did not enter
• 1950 Champions 
• 1954 4th place
• 1958 Did not qualify
• 1962 1st round
• 1966 Quarter-finals
• 1970 4th place
• 1974 1st round
• 1978 Did not qualify
• 1982 Did not qualify
• 1986 Last 16
• 1990 Last 16
• 1994 Did not qualify
• 1998 Did not qualify
• 2002 Group stages
• 2006 Did not qualify
• 2010 4th place
• 2014 Last 16