Mohamed Salah is a looming obstacle as Russia attempt to virtually secure their place in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday. Fears that poor performances from the home side could dampen enthusiasm in the host nation were blown away by a 5-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia in the opening game. The seven-time African champions will pose a much tougher task, but a lot will depend upon Salah’s fitness. Get live updates of Russia vs Egypt, FIFA World Cup 2018 Group A game, here.
23:46 hrs IST: Egypt pressing hard
23:42 hrs IST: Salah makes an in ward road from the right. Russian defenders are quick to clear it.
23:40 hrs IST: The first 10 minutes are up! No goals and No Salah either. He has been absent from the action so far.
23:36 hrs IST: Sergei Ignashevich attempts a weak header but Egypt goalkeeper holds it firmly.
23:32 hrs IST: Egypt has shown signs of going on the offensive in the early minutes. But no goals yet. An early strike will spice things up today.
23:30 hrs IST: Salah offers a short prayer before the match. His fans back home will be doing the same it seems. Egypt need a win today.
23:25 hrs IST: The teams are here for the national anthems.
23:04 hrs IST: Forward Artem Dzyuba, who scored a minute after coming on from the bench in the second half, is the other change and starts in place of striker Fyodor Smolov.
23:00 hrs IST: Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov made two changes to the team that thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opening game of the tournament, with winger Denis Cheryshev, who scored twice in that match, replacing injured midfielder Alan Dzagoev.
22:52 hrs IST: Salah missed Egypt’s 1-0 defeat by Uruguay in their first game as he was still recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained in the Champions League final last month, and replaces Amr Warda in the only change made by coach Hector Cuper.
22:50 hrs IST: Egypt’s talismanic striker Mohamed Salah was named in their starting line-up for their second World Cup Group A match against Russia in St Petersburg on Tuesday.
22:45 hrs IST: The teams
Russia: Akinfeev; Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Zhirkov; Gazinskiy, Zobnin, Samedov, Golovin, Cheryshev; Dzuba
Egypt: El Shenawy; Fathi, Hegazi, Gabr, Shafy; Elneny, Hamed; Salah, El-said; Trezeguet; Mohsen
22:40 hrs IST: Welcome all to the live coverage!
Liverpool star Salah has not featured since leaving the field in tears early in the Champions League final just over three weeks ago after landing heavily on his left shoulder and had to watch from the bench as Egypt lost 1-0 to Uruguay in their opening game.
Salah has been declared 100 percent fit by Egypt’s team doctor and his agent, leaving little doubt he will be thrown back into action in the Pharaohs’ hour of need.
However, as he returned to training on Saturday, Salah was seen by AFP reporters at Egypt’s training camp in Grozny needing help from teammates to lift a training top over his head.
If fully fit, the sight of Salah, who scored 44 goals in a remarkable debut season at Liverpool, will strike fear into the Russians.
Concerns Russia could become just the second host nation to bow out of the World Cup at the group stage after a seven-game winless run ahead of the tournament have been alleviated by a perfect start.
With Uruguay favourites to top the group, though, Russia are keen not to have to rely on getting something from their final group game against the two-time former world champions.
Source: HindustanTimes