2018 FIFA WORLD CUP: MATCH DAY 2, EGYPT VS URUGUAY

WORLD CUP MATCH DAY 2 UNDERWAY: ITS EGYPT VS URUGUAY!!!

Uruguay beat Egypt in their only previous encounter, defeating them 2-0 in Alexandria in August 2006. La Celeste have never lost at a World Cup to an African side.

Uruguay only played one warm up game ahead of the World Cup, a routine victory over Uzbekistan, but enter the tournament on the back of a five-match unbeaten run. However, they won just one of their last seven qualiying matches.

Egypt don't enter the World Cup in the best of form, as Cuper's side have not won any of their six games since the win over Congo that sealed their spot in Russia. In their warm up games, the Pharaohs drew 0-0 with Colombia and were defeated 3-0 by Belgium - an improvement on those results in needed.

Cavani (40) and Suarez (31) scored a combined 71 goals at club level during the 2017-18 season. Suarez has scored five goals in total at the World Cup previously, with Cavani netting twice.

After losing to South American rivals Colombia in Brazil four years ago, Uruguay are looking for success this time around. 68 years after La Celeste last won the World Cup, it would be a major surprise to see Suarez and company go all the way in Russia but they're expected to be present in the latter stages of the competition.

Egypt expects ahead of the Pharaoh's first World Cup match in 28 years but the absence of Salah, who scored five of Egypt's eight goals in the third-round of qualifying for the tournament, will hit Cuper's side hard. However, it's a chance to show that they're not all about one player in what is on paper their hardest game in Group A.

Salah (33) is the top-scorer in Egypt's World Cup squad. No other player in the African side's ranks have hit double figures for the Pharaohs.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez names a strong line-up and the one that many would expect to see, with experienced strikers Cavani and Suarez leading the line.

Arsenal fans should keep an eye on substitute Torreira, who's widely linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium from Sampdoria.

The big news from Egypt's perspective is that, despite being tipped as almost certain to start, Hector Cuper only names Salah on the bench as the Liverpool star pushes for a return from injury.

In his absence, the Pharaohs will look towards Al Ahly's Mohsen to get the goals but he's scored just four for his nation prior to the World Cup.
Uruguay subs: Martin Campana, Martin Silva, Cristhian Stuani, Sebastian Coates, Diego Laxalt, Jonathan Urretaviscaya, Gaston Silva, Carlos Sanchez, Maxi Gomez, Lucas Torreira, Maxi Pereira, Cristian Rodriguez.

Egypt subs: Essam El Hadary, Sherif Ekramy, Ahmed El Mohamady, Omar Gaber, Sam Morsy, Mohamed Salah, Kahraba, Ayman Ashraf, Ramadan Sobhi, Mahmoud Hamdi, Shikabala, Saad Samir.

Uruguay XI: Fernando Muslera; Guillermo Varela, Jose Gimenez, Diego Godin, Martin Caceres; Nahitan Nandez, Rodrigo Bentancur, Matias Vecino, Giorgian de Arrascaeta; Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez.

Egypt XI: Mohamed El-Shenawy; Ahmed Fathy, Ahmed Hegazi, Ali Gabr, Mohamed Shafy; Mohamed Elneny, Tarek Hamed; Amr Warda, Abdallah El Said, Trezeguet; Marwan Mohsen.

After Russia got us started in some style yesterday, Egypt and Uruguay will be looking to follow in the footsteps of the host nation by beginning their campaigns with three points - especially as Russia's goal difference was boosted significantly against Saudi Arabia.

Hello and welcome to live text commentary of the Group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
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