Russia v Uruguay: Match Preview
The World Cup hosts, Russia, and Uruguay come face-to-face in the final match in Group A with top place in the group still at stake.
The two sides have both won their opening two games, but a draw would be enough for the tournament hosts to top the group thanks to their far superior goal difference.
Both teams come into the match in contrasting form despite both having won their two opening matches.
The South American’s have edged through in both of their matches by 1-0 and have looked extremely conservative and negative throughout this spell.
As for Russia, they have been one of the surprises of the competition coming into this match having won 5-0 and 3-1 in their previous games to give them great belief that they can top this group.
If the Uruguayans are to pick up any sort of positive result this afternoon then they are going to need to have strikers Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani on form which is something which hasn’t happened to date in the competition with both misfiring in front of goal.
Regardless of where both teams finish in this group they will face a tough assignment in the next stage with Group A’s qualifiers coming up against the same from Group B which includes 2010 winners, Spain and European Champions, Portugal.
Backed by their home support, the Russian’s will be confident that they can get the job done against what has been a largely poor Uruguay team throughout.
Luis Suarez is set to be once again the key man for his side as they look to end the group stage on a high with an important victory.
He has scored just one goal in the opening two matches and has – in truth – underperformed in both of the matches after what was a fine season in La Liga with Barcelona.
As for the hosts, young midfielder Aleksandr Golovin is set to play a key role once more having started the tournament really strongly playing a key role in getting his side through to the knockout stages.
The two nations have met just once before back in 2012 when they played out a 1-1 draw in an international friendly in Moscow and Suarez was among the scorers that day before Russia sub Alexander Kerzhakov quickly equalised.
In terms of team news, the South American’s are set to be without central defender Jose Gimenez for this one – he’s out with a thigh injury.
As for Russia, they remain without Alan Dzagoev who picked up an injury in the country’s opening win against Saudi Arabia.
Elsewhere, both teams are at full health for this one in what is set to be a key contest in the group.
Prediction
Whilst both sides have qualified I expect the Russians to attack this one and really go all out for that top place finish in the group while Uruguay play more conservatively and look to claim their 3rd 1-0 win of the group stage.
I think the Russian’s will just edge it 2-1.