On the second day of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, June 15th, 2018, Egypt and Uruguay will start their campaign from the Group A, locking horns at Ekaterinburg Arena in Ekaterinburg. Egypt will almost certainly play without Mohamed Salah, so they are big +600 underdogs to grab a victory against strong Uruguay side. The stake is huge, as potential losers will find themselves in a hard situation after the opening round of the group stage, so let’s take a closer look what can the bettors expect from this game.
Egypt vs. Uruguay
3-Way: 1: Egypt +600; X: +275 Draw; 2: Uruguay -190 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread +1: Egypt -112; Uruguay +100
Total +2: Over -120; Under +105
Both Teams to Score Yes/No: +150/-200
EGYPT
The Pharaohs are back at the FIFA World Cup after missing the previous six tournaments, and with the magnificent Mohamed Salah in the team, their fans are hoping for an upset in the Group A, although Egypt is considered by the bookies as a +162 underdog to reach the second round. Salah had a tremendous season with Liverpool, scoring 44 goals in 52 appearances, but the bettors should know he was injured in the UEFA Champions League Final and probably will miss the opening game against Uruguay. He should be ready for the second game with Russia, and the Pharaohs will have to find the way to resist Uruguay without their best player.
Egypt’s manager Hector Cuper prefers a cautious 4-5-1 formation with a couple of defensive-minded midfielders in the starting eleven to strength the defensive block, while he mostly insists on quick counter-attacks through both flanks, and this is where he’ll miss Mohamed Salah the most, as his speed with the ball is simply amazing. Cuper will have to rely on Ramadan Sobhi and Trezeguet in the final third, but the toughest assignment will be to defend against mighty Uruguay’s attack. A few days ago, Egypt played a goalless draw with Colombia, bravely defending the net for most of the time, and showing how they will open their World Cup campaign.
URUGUAY
After finishing at the second spot of their qualifying group behind Brazil, Uruguay is the strongest -600 favorite to reach the Round of 16 from Group A. La Celeste has recorded nine wins, four draws, and five losses with a goal difference of 32:20, while 13 out of their 18 qualifying games had at least three goals in the total. Uruguay is showing some tendencies to improve the defensive work lately, and La Celeste has beaten Czech Republic 2-0 and Wales 1-0 in their previous friendly matches respectively. However, their strongest weapon will be a deadly frontline, as only a few teams at the 2018 FIFA World Cup can brag with such a talent in the offense.
Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are both lethal strikers, but they can also include others into the action. While Cavani is a pure fox in the box, Suarez is a more skillful forward who can be used on both wings, too, so this duo should be the biggest fear for Egypt’s defensive line. Uruguay’s captain Diego Godin will hold the things at the back along with the talented youngster Jose Maria Gimenez, whilst the lack of creativity in the middle of the park could be Uruguay’s main problem. Hereof, the head coach Oscar Tabarez prefers a 4-4-2 formation with a high pressure on opponents, insisting on a simple direct-passing style of play.
Egypt vs. Uruguay – Match and Odds Breakdown
The bookmakers expect to see a tight game with no more than a couple of goals in the total, setting the wages on the Over/Under 2.5 Goals at +140/-188, while Uruguay is a clear favorite to win the clash after Mohamed Salah’s shoulder injury. Egypt will certainly take a cautious approach, trying to close down both Suarez and Cavani, and the Pharaohs will be happy as long as it stays nil-nil on the scoreboard, looking for some scoring chances on the counter. Hector Cuper’s team has a good pace without a ball, and if they pan out to put a pressure on Uruguay’s midfielders, the Pharaohs could isolate La Celeste’s forwards and get a positive result here.
On the other side, Uruguay is a physically strong team with a sturdy defense, so they should not allow plenty of opportunities in front of their goalkeeper, while the odds on both teams to score here at +150 also show you that bookmakers have the same view. Set pieces situations will be Uruguay strength for sure, as they have the advantage over Pharaohs in aerial duels, so the bettors can expect to see a goal after a corner-kick or a free-kick. This is still the first round of the group stage, so Uruguay shouldn’t take too many risks, while set pieces are a perfect chance to break a deadlock.
I believe Uruguay will find the way to beat Egypt, as they are the far more experienced team than Pharaohs, so I’m backing betting on the spread here, and if Uruguay wins the one-goal margin, you’ll get your stake back. Beating the lines on the totals seems like a tricky job, but the bettors should check all betting options on BetDSI Sportsbook, as they’ll cover all 2018 FIFA World Cup matches.
The Pick: Uruguay AH -1 (+100)
