Thursday 14 June
Russia vs Saudi Arabia - Moscow (Luzhniki) - 4pm - ITV
Friday 15 June
Egypt vs Uruguay (Group A) - Ekaterinburg - 1pm - BBC
Tuesday 19 June
Russia vs Egypt (Group A) - St Petersburg - 7pm - BBC
Wednesday 20 June
Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia (Group A) - Rostov-on-Don - 4pm - BBC
Monday 25 June
Uruguay vs Russia (Group A) - Samara - 3pm - ITV
Saudi Arabia vs Egypt (Group A) - Volgograd - 3pm - ITV
Odds to win Group A: (Coral)
Uruguay 4-5f
Russia 8-5
Egypt 11-2
Saudi Arabia 33-1
Who do you think will go through in Group A?
Russia v Saudi Arabia must be the least attractive opening fixture of a World Cup for a long time. Of course, we could all be wrong and it might be a nine-goal thriller.
Russia vs Saudi Arabia has 1-1 draw written all over it.
Russia were frustrating to watch in Euro 2016, they played fast attacking football but couldn't score
Simulated Results
RUS 3:0 KSA
EGY 1:1 URU
RUS 0:2 EGY
URU 4:0 KSA
KSA 0:1 EGY
RUS 1:2 URU
Uruguay [2-0-1] [7pts.] [7-2]
Egypt [2-0-1] [7pts.] [4-1]
Russia [1-2-0] [3pts.] [4-4]
Saudi Arabia [0-3-0] [0pts.] [0-8]
The problem with Euro 2016 was the format of the competition, 3rd place in most of the groups would have got a team through to the knockout stage and that's even how the eventual winners Portugal qualified. 3 and 4 points were enough for the 3rd placed teams to make it through to the next round so a lot of teams played for draws instead of trying to win so that made matches less entertaining to watch.
I will not be surprised if Russia fail to win a match at this World Cup, they could end up being the worst performing host team in history.
Yes Russia v Saudi Arabia could be the worst opening game of a World Cup. Previous opening games have been good.
Can see it being a score draw between Russia and Saudi Arabia.
I don't think so, I can see it getting a bit dirty and with a fair few goals scored. From the Russian side, the cynic in me is thinking the Saudis will have been instructed to be on their best behaviour in order to not give the referee any excuses.
Of course I hope to be proved wrong.
I think VAR will be used in this match.
What a moment to score your first international goal for Gazinsky.
Russia are all over Saudi Arabia at the moment! It's looking like it could be a thrashing at this rate.
The first few minutes Saudi seemed in control. This may knock their confidence but I can see a way back for them if they don't get too rattled.
Saudi just starting to get their confidence back.
Aaand another one for Russia. Good goal to be fair, although I'm behind Saudi.
I think Russia will get at least another goal in this match, Saudi Arabia have been so poor for the large majority of this match so far.
Saudi Arabia will most likely end up without a point if they don't get anything in this match because Egypt and Uruguay will surely beat them.
A surprisingly positive performance from Russia so far.
Saudi Arabia really need to do something early now in this half!
And they didn't.
An instant impact from the Russia sub.
Poor Saudi I guess they were lucky to make the finals anyway.
Unless they've received a concession from the authorities, the Saudi players will still be observing Ramadan. It will be over in time for their remaining two matches.
The Saudis are always hilariously awful at the World Cup but I really thought this would be different for them. Shoddy work and fair play to the Russians, that'll restore some host confidence. They've probably got a round of 16 run in them now.
So um, rekt.
Difficult to tell if that means Russia should be taken more seriously as a genuine threat or that SA are just there to make up the numbers.
Saudi Arabia made Russia look like 2011 Barcelona in that match! An absolutely abysmal performance from them, that free kick at the end was quality though. Russia Vs Egypt will be interesting, the winner of that match will have a very strong chance of making it to the knockout stage.
Haha, yeah we'll see when Russia takes on Egypt, that's the real match of this group. Russia just took the energy of opening night and an inferior opponent and ran with it.
Saudi Arabia have a knack of conceding a lot of goals at the World Cup. They conceded 12 goals in 3 matches at the 2002 World Cup which included an 8-0 defeat to Germany. They've finished bottom of their group in multiple World Cups, They're definitely here to make up the numbers.
Oh no, poor Saudi. I thought they may have actually ran Russia quite close given neither are obvious favourites but wasn't to be, I have them in my family sweepstake so this wasn't the best start Good game from Russia in all fairness, the later matches in this group will see if this whether it's genuine or if they just wanted to look the best on their opening.
Didn't Saudi do alright in qualifying? God help the rest of the Asian teams if so. Russia are not even that good.
I fear it will get much worse for Saudi when they play Egypt and Uruguay.
Egypt v Uruguay has been woeful so far. Let's hope it remains the worst match of the tournament.
Uruguay are never really a particularly exciting side and they've been keeping the Egypt team well contained, but then they're being countered by the Egyptians surprisingly well on the other half. So a 0-0.
Gimenez in the 89th minute. 1-0 Uruguay.
Seems like I didn't miss much.
Egypt were unlucky to lose late in the match like that, Uruguay didn't play well. Egypt's match against Russia is one that they cant afford to lose otherwise they will be out of the World Cup.
Suarez's attempts in that match
Egypt vs Russia could be a great match tomorrow, Russia of course have proved they can attack well and score goals from their first match, and Egypt of course will be pushing for the win.
Yeh should be fun!
Hopefully Salah back for Egypt it could be a good game. A far more sterner test for Russia in this match compared to Saudi Arabia.
So onto the second round of group games.
Salah will start for Egypt.
Well that went downhill very quickly for Egypt.
Man, Russia are really riding one high home advantage wave, aren't they.
putin's bribe budget must be hurting, it's a high price to humiliate teams and not just beat them
That was something from Russia. Egypt 's defence has completely collapsed.
Russia have been alright, Egypt have been terrible. Salah is obviously nowhere near fit, he's not moving right at all or anywhere close to how he can be.
I didn't think Russia would get out of this group but after that victory they're certain to make it now I think. Egypt will be heading out of the tournament, unlucky for Salah.
I wouldn't put it past Russia considering the good form they are in to beat Uruguay in their last group game (although that might be a step too far considering Uruguay are very good defensively from what I can remember)
People really were quick to write off Russia's chances weren't they (myself included admittedly). Reckon' they'll win the group now on GD with a draw with Uruguay in their last match.
Egypt were awfully disappointing...
Russia have surprised me too, they might fluke it through to the Quarter Finals. Likelihood is they will play Denmark (if I'm right in thinking?).
They've played two poor teams so far so you can't really read too much in to it.
Very disappointing in that match from Egypt. I can see Uruguay beating Russia when they play in their final group game.
If Saudi Arabia play like they did in the first match, it could be another heavy defeat for them against Uruguay who would feel they have a point to prove after scraping past Egypt.
I thought Uruguay would be better than this. I worry for them in the match against Russia.
He doesn't have the pace anymore but because age doesn't effect your ability to take set plays and heading the ball he still has good stats. If you watch him he barely moves other than when the ball is really close!
Garbage lol. He's playing in average team and is literally carrying them this tournament. He'll get the golden boot with ease the way it's going.
One of the worst games of the World Cup so far between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia there.
Which is exactly my point, I didn't say he wasn't good only that he doesn't or can't play at full throttle any longer but his ability to score set pieces means he is still the centre of much of the goal scoring!
It looks like Uruguay will be winning this group! They'll most likely face Portugal in the next round.
All going pear-shaped for the hosts today. Now down to 10 men.
Watching paint dry would have been more entertaining than watching Egypt Vs Saudi Arabia. It's no surprise now that these are the two teams going out of the World Cup from Group A, I thought Egypt would have made it through before the tournament started but they have been very uninspiring.
And now Saudi Arabia have scored in the last minute which means Egypt are bottom with no points.
I wanted Russia to win, Uruguay are just so dull to watch
Saudi Arabia won the other match, oh well done to them. Very disappointing from Egypt in this World Cup.
Saudi did it and claimed their first win at a World Cup since 1994. Wouldn't have thought they would after their first match.
I feel old that I remember that game!
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