The following is a match centre with betting tips for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group A fixture between Russia and Egypt. The game kicks off on the 20th of June at 4:00 AM AEST. As part of a revised broadcast agreement, this fixture will be broadcast live on SBS.
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Russia
- FIFA World Rank: 70
- Elo Rating: 44
- Qualifying: Automatically qualified as the host nation
Squad:
- Coach: Stanislav Cherchesov
- Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Brugge), Andrey Lunev (Zenit St Petersburg)
- Defenders: Vladimir Granat, Fyodor Kudryashov (Rubin Kazan), Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow), Andrey Semyonov (Akhmat Grozny), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit St Petersburg), Mario Fernandes, Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow)
- Midfielders: Yury Gazinsky (Krasnodar), Alan Dzagoev, Alexander Golovin (CSKA Moscow), Alexander Erokhin, Yury Zhirkov, Daler Kuzyaev (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Zobnin, Alexander Samedov (Spartak Moscow), Anton Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Denis Cheryshev (Villarre
- Forwards: Artem Dzyuba (Arsenal Tula), Alexei Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Fyodor Smolov (Krasnodar)
Recent results:
- Russia 5 – 0 Saudi Arabia
14/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Russia 1 – 1 Turkey
05/06/2018
Friendly, played in Russia - Austria 1 – 0 Russia
30/05/2018
Friendly, played in Austria - Russia 1 – 3 France
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in Russia - Russia 0 – 3 Brazil
23/03/2018
Friendly, played in Russia - Russia 3 – 3 Spain
14/11/2017
Friendly, played in Russia - Russia 0 – 1 Argentina
11/11/2017
Friendly, played in Russia - Russia 1 – 1 Iran
10/10/2017
Friendly, played in Russia - Russia 4 – 2 South Korea
07/10/2017
Friendly, played in Russia - Russia 1 – 2 Mexico
24/06/2017
Confederations Cup, played in Russia - Russia 0 – 1 Portugal
21/06/2017
Confederations Cup, played in Russia - Russia 2 – 0 New Zealand
17/06/2017
Confederations Cup, played in Russia
Statistics: (last five years):
- H2H Record: 24-16-18
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 56-2
- O/U 1.5 record: 44-14
- O/U 2.5 record: 27-31
- O/U 3.5 record: 15-43
- O/U 4.5 record: 9-49
- O/U 5.5 record: 7-51
- Wins
- Total wins: 24
- Won by 1 goal: 8
- Won by 2 goals: 7
- Won by 3 goals: 4
- Won by 4 goals: 3
- Won by 5 goals: 1
- Won by 5+ goals: 1
- Won to nil 17
- Losses
- Total losses: 18
- Lost by 1 goal: 12
- Lost by 2 goals: 4
- Lost by 3 goals: 2
- Lost by 4 goals: 0
- Lost by 5 goals: 0
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 10
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 58
- Clean Sheets: 19
- Held Scoreless: 12
- Both Teams Scored: 29
Egypt
- FIFA World Rank: 45
- Elo Rating: 50
- Qualifying: Won Group E with a 4-1-1 record in the CAF Third Round.
Squad:
- Coach: Héctor Cúper (Argentina)
- Goalkeepers: Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly), Essam El Hadary (Al Taawoun), Mohamed El Shennawy (Al Ahly)
- Defenders: Mohamed Abdel-Shafi (Al Fateh), Ayman Ashraf (Al Ahly), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahly), Omar Gaber (Los Angeles FC), Ali Gabr (Zamalek), Mahmoud Hamdy (Zamalek), Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich Albion), Saad Samir (Al Ahly)
- Midfielders: Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Abdallah El Said (Al Ahly Jeddah), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Mahmoud Kahraba (Al Ittihad Jeddah), Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic), Shikabala (Al Raed), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City), Mahmoud Hassan (Kasimpasa), Amr Warda (Atromitos)
- Forwards: Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Recent results:
- Egypt 0 – 1 Uruguay
15/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Belgium 3 – 0 Egypt
06/06/2018
Friendly, played in Belgium - Colombia 0 – 0 Egypt
01/06/2018
Friendly, played in Italy - Kuwait 1 – 1 Egypt
25/05/2018
Friendly, played in Kuwait - Greece 1 – 0 Egypt
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Portugal 2 – 1 Egypt
23/03/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Ghana 1 – 1 Egypt
12/11/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Ghana - Egypt 2 – 1 Congo
08/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Egypt - Egypt 1 – 0 Uganda
05/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Egypt - Uganda 1 – 0 Egypt
31/08/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Uganda - Egypt 1 – 0 Libya
05/06/2017
Friendly, played in Egypt - Egypt 1 – 0 Libya
13/05/2017
Friendly, played in Egypt
Statistics: (last five years):
- H2H Record: 30-8-14
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 50-2
- O/U 1.5 record: 33-19
- O/U 2.5 record: 17-35
- O/U 3.5 record: 5-47
- O/U 4.5 record: 3-49
- O/U 5.5 record: 3-49
- Wins
- Total wins: 30
- Won by 1 goal: 13
- Won by 2 goals: 11
- Won by 3 goals: 4
- Won by 4 goals: 2
- Won by 5 goals: 0
- Won by 5+ goals: 0
- Won to nil 24
- Losses
- Total losses: 14
- Lost by 1 goal: 11
- Lost by 2 goals: 1
- Lost by 3 goals: 1
- Lost by 4 goals: 0
- Lost by 5 goals: 1
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 10
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 52
- Clean Sheets: 26
- Held Scoreless: 12
- Both Teams Scored: 16
Commentary
Only one host nation (South Africa in 2010) has ever failed to reach the knockout stage and Russia looks on track to continue that trend after thrashing Saudi Arabia 5-0 on matchday 1. In scoring five goals, Russia have already scored more goals in this tournament than in their last two appearances at the World Cup (2 in 2014 and 4 in 2002). After going 0-1-3 in friendlies leading up to the tournament, Russia appeared to grow an extra leg in their first World Cup fixture, but that may be due to Saudi Arabia putting in an absolutely dreadful performance. We’ll learn a lot more about Russia’s credentials after this match. Many questions were raised about Russia’s defence, due to long-term injuries to centre-backs Georgi Dzhikiya, Viktor Vasin and Ruslan Kambolov. Will they be able to keep another clean sheet? In team news, midfielder Alan Dzagoev will miss this game and possibly additional fixtures after injuring his hamstring against Saudi Arabia.
Egypt lost their opening fixture 0-1 to Uruguay after conceding an 89th minute goal, but they can take heart from the fact that they’ve arguably got the toughest fixture out of the way and star player Mohamed Salah looks set to return from injury. Salah scored 44 goals for Liverpool in the latest campaign and he received both the Premier League Golden Boot and the Premier League Player of the Season awards. This should give Egypt a huge boost of confidence. The key concern, however, is the side remains winless in seven matches since November of last year, going 0-3-4.
Betting
bet365 odds (subject to change):
Compare the latest bookmaker odds for Russia vs. Egypt
Due to their +5 goal difference, Russia probably only need a draw to be in the box seat to progress to the Round of 16, but they will certainly want all 3 points to avoid having to rely on Uruguay beating Saudi Arabia. Russia’s home advantage can’t be underestimated, which is why I’m leaning towards the home side.
Betting tip: back Russia draw no bet (+0.0 Asian Handicap) at 1.50 (Betstar, Bookmaker, Ladbrokes)
Notes
- FIFA World rankings are from the 7th of June and sourced from https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/index.html
- The World Football Elo Ratings are from the 11th of June and are based on the Elo rating system, developed by Dr. Arpad Elo. This system is used by the international chess federation to rate chess players and is considered by many to be a superior rating tool to the one used by FIFA. The ratings have been sourced from https://www.eloratings.net/.
- Squad lists sourced from http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/11374464/every-world-cup-squad-listed-argentina-brazil-russia-and-more