The following is a match centre with betting tips for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group A fixture between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The game kicks off on the 26th of June at 12:00 AM AEST. It will be broadcast live on SBS Viceland.
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Saudi Arabia
- FIFA World Rank: 67
- Elo Rating: 63
- Qualifying: Runners up in Group B with a 6-1-3 record in the AFC Third Round.
Squad:
- Coach: Juan Antonio Pizzi (Spain)
- Goalkeepers: Yasser al-Mosaileem (Al-Ahli), Abdullah al-Mayouf (Al-Hilal), Mohammed al-Owais (Al-Ahli)
- Defenders: Mansour al-Harbi (Al-Ahli), Yasser al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal), Osama Hawsawi (Al-Hilal), Omar Hawsawi (Al-Nassr), Motaz Hawsawi (Al-Ahli), Ali al-Bulayhi (Al-Hilal), Mohammed al-Burayk (Al-Hilal)
- Midfielders: Abdulla Otayf (Al-Hilal), Salman al-Faraj (Al-Hilal), Mohammed Kanno (Al-Hilal), Abdullah al-Khaibari (Al-Shabab), Hussein al-Moqahwi (Al-Ahli), Abdulmalik al-Khaibari (Al-Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al Shabab), Salem al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Taisir al-Jassim (
- Forwards: Mohannad Assiri (Al-Ahli), Mohammed al-Sahlawi (Al-Nassr)
Recent results:
- Uruguay 1 – 0 Saudi Arabia
20/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Russia 5 – 0 Saudi Arabia
14/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Germany 2 – 1 Saudi Arabia
08/06/2018
Friendly, played in Germany - Saudi Arabia 0 – 3 Peru
03/06/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Italy 2 – 1 Saudi Arabia
28/05/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Saudi Arabia 2 – 0 Greece
15/05/2018
Friendly, played in Spain - Algeria 0 – 2 Saudi Arabia
09/05/2018
Friendly, played in Spain - Belgium 4 – 0 Saudi Arabia
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in Belgium - Ukraine 1 – 1 Saudi Arabia
23/03/2018
Friendly, played in Spain - Iraq 4 – 1 Saudi Arabia
28/02/2018
Friendly, played in Iraq - Saudi Arabia 3 – 0 Moldova
26/02/2018
Friendly, played in Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia 0 – 2 Oman
28/12/2017
Friendly, played in Kuwait
Statistics: (last four years):
- H2H Record: 25-8-20
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 51-2
- O/U 1.5 record: 44-9
- O/U 2.5 record: 33-20
- O/U 3.5 record: 16-37
- O/U 4.5 record: 12-41
- O/U 5.5 record: 4-49
- Wins
- Total wins: 25
- Won by 1 goal: 10
- Won by 2 goals: 4
- Won by 3 goals: 7
- Won by 4 goals: 1
- Won by 5 goals: 1
- Won by 5+ goals: 2
- Won to nil 16
- Losses
- Total losses: 20
- Lost by 1 goal: 10
- Lost by 2 goals: 3
- Lost by 3 goals: 5
- Lost by 4 goals: 1
- Lost by 5 goals: 1
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 10
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 53
- Clean Sheets: 18
- Held Scoreless: 12
- Both Teams Scored: 25
Egypt
- FIFA World Rank: 45
- Elo Rating: 50
- Qualifying: Won Group E with a 4-1-1 record in the CAF Third Round.
Squad:
- Coach: Héctor Cúper (Argentina)
- Goalkeepers: Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly), Essam El Hadary (Al Taawoun), Mohamed El Shennawy (Al Ahly)
- Defenders: Mohamed Abdel-Shafi (Al Fateh), Ayman Ashraf (Al Ahly), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahly), Omar Gaber (Los Angeles FC), Ali Gabr (Zamalek), Mahmoud Hamdy (Zamalek), Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich Albion), Saad Samir (Al Ahly)
- Midfielders: Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Abdallah El Said (Al Ahly Jeddah), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Mahmoud Kahraba (Al Ittihad Jeddah), Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic), Shikabala (Al Raed), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City), Mahmoud Hassan (Kasimpasa), Amr Warda (Atromitos)
- Forwards: Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Recent results:
- Russia 3 – 1 Egypt
19/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Egypt 0 – 1 Uruguay
15/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Belgium 3 – 0 Egypt
06/06/2018
Friendly, played in Belgium - Colombia 0 – 0 Egypt
01/06/2018
Friendly, played in Italy - Kuwait 1 – 1 Egypt
25/05/2018
Friendly, played in Kuwait - Greece 1 – 0 Egypt
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Portugal 2 – 1 Egypt
23/03/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Ghana 1 – 1 Egypt
12/11/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Ghana - Egypt 2 – 1 Congo
08/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Egypt - Egypt 1 – 0 Uganda
05/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Egypt - Uganda 1 – 0 Egypt
31/08/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Uganda - Egypt 1 – 0 Libya
05/06/2017
Friendly, played in Egypt
Statistics: (last four years):
- H2H Record: 24-7-14
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 43-2
- O/U 1.5 record: 26-19
- O/U 2.5 record: 13-32
- O/U 3.5 record: 3-42
- O/U 4.5 record: 1-44
- O/U 5.5 record: 1-44
- Wins
- Total wins: 24
- Won by 1 goal: 12
- Won by 2 goals: 7
- Won by 3 goals: 3
- Won by 4 goals: 2
- Won by 5 goals: 0
- Won by 5+ goals: 0
- Won to nil 20
- Losses
- Total losses: 14
- Lost by 1 goal: 11
- Lost by 2 goals: 2
- Lost by 3 goals: 1
- Lost by 4 goals: 0
- Lost by 5 goals: 0
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 10
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 45
- Clean Sheets: 22
- Held Scoreless: 12
- Both Teams Scored: 13
Commentary
Saudi Arabia are now playing for pride after 5-0 and 1-0 defeats to Russia and Uruguay, respectively. The losses extend their miserable winless streak at World Cups to 12 games (0-2-10 record). They also haven’t scored in the last 4 of those fixtures. After being humiliated 5-0 by Russia in their opening match, Saudi Arabia put in a much stronger performance against Uruguay. They dominated first-half possession and created goal scoring opportunities but were unable to convert. In team news, Saudi Arabia will be without the injured Taiseer Al Jassam, Omar Hawsawi or Mansour Al-Harbi.
Like Saudi Arabia, Egypt are playing for pride after they lost their first fixture 1-0 to Uruguay and their second 3-1 to Russia. They held out for most of the game against Uruguay before succumbing to a late set-piece goal. Egypt then kept Russia at bay in the first half before conceding an own-goal in the 47th minute and two further goals in quick succession. Egypt currently sit ahead of Saudi Arabia in the Group A standings courtesy of a superior goal difference so a draw would see them avoid the Group A wooden spoon. If they can win this clash it would be their first victory in World Cup history. Reports are that star player Mohamed Salah will remain with the team rather than head home early, despite their elimination from contention.
Betting
bet365 odds (subject to change):
Compare the latest bookmaker odds for Saudi Arabia vs. Egypt
I’m expecting a low-scoring game. Egypt kept both Uruguay and Russia goalless in the first half while creating few opportunities themselves. Each of the last 8 goals Egypt have conceded in the World Cup have come in the second half. Saudi Arabia haven’t scored in their last four World Cup games. A 0-0 halftime scoreline couldn’t surprise me (2.85 at Unibet). Neither would under 2.5 match goals. Over the last four years only 13 of Egypt’s 45 matches have gone over this total.
Betting tip: back under 2.5 goals at 1.86 (Betfair)
Notes
- FIFA World rankings are from the 7th of June and sourced from https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/index.html
- The World Football Elo Ratings are from the 11th of June and are based on the Elo rating system, developed by Dr. Arpad Elo. This system is used by the international chess federation to rate chess players and is considered by many to be a superior rating tool to the one used by FIFA. The ratings have been sourced from https://www.eloratings.net/.
- Squad lists sourced from http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/11374464/every-world-cup-squad-listed-argentina-brazil-russia-and-more