Egypt 0-1 Uruguay Six Things: Sanchez the gamechanger

A 90th minute Jose Gimenez header saw Uruguay kick-off their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Egypt. Here’s six things from the game.

Initially disjointed Uruguay

Uruguay entered this tournament with two of the highest-profile strikers but that, alone, is no guarantee of goals. Because Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani stayed in the final third – trying to instigate more aggressive pressing than the four-man midfield could manage – there became a big gap between the units which was not conducive to breaking down a workmanlike Egypt side. Although, an unmarked Suarez could have scored the opener midway through the first half, had he not scuffed the ball into the side netting.

Ferocious first half from Pharoahs

Tarek Hamed rarely held back from challenges while Ahmed Fathy put in a no-nonsense shift at right-back, meaning that Hector Cuper’s side were first to almost every loose ball in their own half. Their movement and quality of passing however, still left a lot to be desired, even if the energy of two-footed right winger Amr Warda caused problems for the suspect Martin Caceres.

Hamed’s exit

The influential Hamed picked up an injury early in the second half. Although replacement Sam Morsy didn’t disgrace himself, there is a possibility that Egypt missed Hamed’s aggression in the defensive phases because without him, they were forced back. One man that could have turned the game in the Pharoahs’ favour was Mohamed Salah but Cuper, surprisingly, put on Ramadan Sobhi instead. The only scenario in which the ex-Stoke now-Huddersfield winger could be preferable to Salah was if the latter is still injured – in which case, why was he on the bench?

Sanchez the game-changer

While substitutions didn’t help Egypt, some credit must go to Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez for making positive changes. Carlos Sanchez injected power into all aspects of Uruguay’s play: pressing, runs, shots and crosses, which they had missed earlier. Egypt’s midfield was therefore forced further back and we saw more space for Cavani and Suarez to use their quick footwork in and around centre-backs Ali Gabr and Ahmed Hegazi. Cavani’s stinging drive forced a wonderful stop from goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy before his free-kick hit the post, but that only delayed the winner.

Heartbreak for Egypt

Cuper’s side looked set for their first World Cup point since 1990, but were denied it in the 90th minute. The excellent Gimenez headed home Sanchez’s looping right-sided free-kick as Hegazi and Elneny, who had done little wrong all game, were beaten in the air. The defeat means Egypt are already three points off the pace in Group A; they must also overturn a six-goal difference on Russia, their next opponents in St Petersburg on Tuesday. While the Africans aren’t lacking endeavour, they are lacking quality in possession – how’s that shoulder coming on, Mo?

Can Uruguay top the group?

We might only have had one round of Group A matches, but the early indications are that Uruguay and Russia’s final day showdown could be a battle for top spot. La Celeste were overall the better side in Yekaterinburg, but they might come undone against Spain or Portugal: some World Cup 2018 free betting offers give us odds-against quotes on them being knocked out in the last-16, an outcome that is beginning to look likely.