2018 FIFA Men's world Cup (Group A)

Group A

Russia (66) FIFA Rankings

Saudi Arabia (70)

Egypt (46)

Uruguay (17)

Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Uruguay make up the four teams that make up group A in the 2018 men’s FIFA World Cup. For most viewers, this group as a whole seems dull and other than a few singular story lines can be deemed as a group that won’t be fondly remembered. The host, Russia, aren’t necessarily exciting to watch and don’t have the same structure as they did under Guus Hiddink. South Africa beat Russia to it, but Russia has a high probability in joining them as the one of two teams to host the tournament and not make it out of the group stage.

The two main reasons why I see Russia having a disappointing summer is because of Egypt and Uruguay. Egypt has not made a world cup appearance since 1990 and to add to the unimpressive record the Egyptian national team has never made it past the group stage. The past doesn’t determine the outcome of present or future performances. At the moment, Egypt have a player that is having an incredible season. Mohammed Salah, who plays his club trade in Liverpool, is a winger that is on his way to win the golden boot in the English Premier League.  As a whole Egypt isn’t a team that can disturb any of the traditional powerhouse teams, but the Pharaohs should have enough to beat Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Uruguay is a safe pick to finish first. The Celeste finished second in the CONMEBOL world cup qualifying region which is regarded as one of, if not the most rigorous region to qualify from. Uruguay has won the tournament twice, but their latest triumph has been well over sixty years. In 2010, led by Diego Forlan, Uruguay finished fourth in South Africa. As mentioned before, the past does nothing to win in the present or future, only create shackles of failure or success. Uruguay has strikers that can score and cause problems to any back line. Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, and Christhian Stuani are strikers who are scoring goals for their respective clubs and if they can replicate their form for their national team Uruguay could be a dark horse in this summer’s tournament and challenge the favorites to win it.

Saudi Arabia isn’t much of a threat to any one in the group and the only news from the national team was when a handful of national team players went to Spain in January to play football in the first and second division.

Group A is the group of the host, but unfortunately for them fixing results won’t be enough for them to get through. Uruguay is a team that can reach the further rounds and Egypt have a scoring machine in Salah to get them by.