World Cup 2018
Friday, June 15th
Group A
Egypt vs Uruguay
Kick-off at 13:00 (1pm) GMT
Group B
Morocco vs Iran
Kick-off at 16:00 (4pm) GMT
The pair of African giants, Egypt and Morocco, have the chance to get their
World Cup campaign under way with the all-important three points in Group A and Group B respectively.
The Pharoahs are still sweating on the fitness of star striker Mohamed Salah ahead of their opening fixture in Group A against a star-studded Uruguay side. Salah is still nursing the shoulder injury he picked up in the UEFA Champions League final for Liverpool last month and faces a race to make the first XI come Friday.
Aside from Salah, manager Hector Cuper has a full-strength side to choose from as does his opposite number. The Ekaterinburg Arena will be packed to the rafters as the likes of Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Godin look to dampen North African spirits upon their return to the World Cup after a 28-year hiatus.
Egypt recent results:
06/06/2018 – Belgium 3-0 Egypt
01/06/2018 – Egypt 0-0 Colombia
25/05/2018 – Kuwait 1-1 Egypt
Uruguay recent results:
08/06/2018 – Uruguay 3-0 Uzbekistan
26/03/2018 – Wales 0-1 Uruguay
23/03/2018 – Uruguay 2-0 Czech Republic
The sides have faced just once previously, in an international friendly played in Alexandria in 2006. Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin, who was just a fresh-faced 20-year-old back then, was on the scoresheet that day in a 2-0 win for the visitors and is the only member of the current Uruguay squad who has had the experience of playing against one of Africa’s most dormant beasts.
Egypt vs Uruguay head-to-head:
16/08/2006 – Egypt 0-2 Uruguay
The Atlas Lions of Morocco will be making their fifth appearance at a FIFA World Cup finals and first since France 1998. They have a real opportunity to pick up maximum points from their opening match against the Iranians before testing fixtures against Iberian neighbours Portugal and Spain. Manager Herve Renard is vastly experienced on the continent, twice winning the African Cup of Nations – in 2012 with Zambia and then again in 2015 with the Ivory Coast. He oversaw a stellar qualifying campaign that saw Morocco concede just one goal in their six fixtures as they booked their ticket on the plane to Russia.
Click
HERE for more info on our
Cup Calendar Challenge promo.
Morocco recent results:
09/06/2018 – Estonia 1-3 Morocco
04/06/2018 – Morocco 2-1 Slovakia
31/05/2018 – Morocco 0-0 Ukraine
Iran recent results:
08/06/2018 – Iran 1-0 Lithuania
28/05/2018 – Turkey 2-1 Iran
19/05/2018 – Iran 1-0 Uzbekistan
This will be the first-ever meeting between Morocco and Iran.