The following is a match centre with betting tips for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group A fixture between Uruguay and Russia. The game kicks off on the 26th of June at 12:00 AM AEST. It will be broadcast live on SBS.
View bookmaker promotions for the FIFA World Cup (excludes NSW)
Compare bookmaker odds for the tournament
Uruguay
- FIFA World Rank: 14
- Elo Rating: 12
- Qualifying: Second place in the CONMEBOL qualifiers with a 9-4-5 record.
Squad:
- Coach: Óscar Tabárez
- Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), Martin Campana (Independiente)
- Defenders: Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Sporting Lisbon), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Maximiliano Pereira (FC Porto), Gaston Silva (Independiente), Martin Caceres (Lazio), Guillermo Varela (Penarol)
- Midfielders: Nahitan Nandez (Boca Juniors), Lucas Torreira (Sampdoria), Matias Vecino (Inter Milan), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus), Carlos Sanchez (Monterrey), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro), Diego Laxalt (Genoa), Cristian Rodriguez
- Forwards: Cristhian Stuani (Girona), Maximiliano Gomez (Celta Vigo), Edinson Cavani (PSG), Luis Suarez (Barcelona)
Recent results:
- Uruguay 1 – 0 Saudi Arabia
20/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Egypt 0 – 1 Uruguay
15/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Uruguay 3 – 0 Uzbekistan
07/06/2018
Friendly, played in Uruguay - Wales 0 – 1 Uruguay
26/03/2018
Friendly, played in China - Uruguay 2 – 0 Czech Republic
23/03/2018
Friendly, played in China - Austria 2 – 1 Uruguay
14/11/2017
Friendly, played in Austria - Poland 0 – 0 Uruguay
10/11/2017
Friendly, played in Poland - Uruguay 4 – 2 Bolivia
10/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Uruguay - Venezuela 0 – 0 Uruguay
05/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Venezuela - Paraguay 1 – 2 Uruguay
05/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Paraguay - Uruguay 0 – 0 Argentina
31/08/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Uruguay - Italy 3 – 0 Uruguay
07/06/2017
Friendly, played in France
Statistics: (last four years):
- H2H Record: 21-9-13
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 39-4
- O/U 1.5 record: 28-15
- O/U 2.5 record: 23-20
- O/U 3.5 record: 10-33
- O/U 4.5 record: 4-39
- O/U 5.5 record: 3-40
- Wins
- Total wins: 21
- Won by 1 goal: 10
- Won by 2 goals: 3
- Won by 3 goals: 6
- Won by 4 goals: 2
- Won by 5 goals: 0
- Won by 5+ goals: 0
- Won to nil 16
- Losses
- Total losses: 13
- Lost by 1 goal: 7
- Lost by 2 goals: 4
- Lost by 3 goals: 2
- Lost by 4 goals: 0
- Lost by 5 goals: 0
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 6
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 43
- Clean Sheets: 20
- Held Scoreless: 10
- Both Teams Scored: 17
Russia
- FIFA World Rank: 70
- Elo Rating: 44
- Qualifying: Automatically qualified as the host nation
Squad:
- Coach: Stanislav Cherchesov
- Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Brugge), Andrey Lunev (Zenit St Petersburg)
- Defenders: Vladimir Granat, Fyodor Kudryashov (Rubin Kazan), Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow), Andrey Semyonov (Akhmat Grozny), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit St Petersburg), Mario Fernandes, Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow)
- Midfielders: Yury Gazinsky (Krasnodar), Alan Dzagoev, Alexander Golovin (CSKA Moscow), Alexander Erokhin, Yury Zhirkov, Daler Kuzyaev (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Zobnin, Alexander Samedov (Spartak Moscow), Anton Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Denis Cheryshev (Villarre
- Forwards: Artem Dzyuba (Arsenal Tula), Alexei Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Fyodor Smolov (Krasnodar)
Recent results:
- Russia 3 – 1 Egypt
19/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Russia 5 – 0 Saudi Arabia
14/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Russia 1 – 1 Turkey
05/06/2018
Friendly, played in Russia - Austria 1 – 0 Russia
30/05/2018
Friendly, played in Austria - Russia 1 – 3 France
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in Russia - Russia 0 – 3 Brazil
23/03/2018
Friendly, played in Russia - Russia 3 – 3 Spain
14/11/2017
Friendly, played in Russia - Russia 0 – 1 Argentina
11/11/2017
Friendly, played in Russia - Russia 1 – 1 Iran
10/10/2017
Friendly, played in Russia - Russia 4 – 2 South Korea
07/10/2017
Friendly, played in Russia - Russia 1 – 2 Mexico
24/06/2017
Confederations Cup, played in Russia - Russia 0 – 1 Portugal
21/06/2017
Confederations Cup, played in Russia
Statistics: (last four years):
- H2H Record: 18-12-16
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 44-2
- O/U 1.5 record: 35-11
- O/U 2.5 record: 24-22
- O/U 3.5 record: 13-33
- O/U 4.5 record: 8-38
- O/U 5.5 record: 7-39
- Wins
- Total wins: 18
- Won by 1 goal: 6
- Won by 2 goals: 5
- Won by 3 goals: 3
- Won by 4 goals: 2
- Won by 5 goals: 1
- Won by 5+ goals: 1
- Won to nil 13
- Losses
- Total losses: 16
- Lost by 1 goal: 10
- Lost by 2 goals: 4
- Lost by 3 goals: 2
- Lost by 4 goals: 0
- Lost by 5 goals: 0
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 8
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 46
- Clean Sheets: 15
- Held Scoreless: 10
- Both Teams Scored: 23
Commentary
Uruguay have qualified for the Round of 16 with a match to spare, having dispatched both Egypt and Saudi Arabia by 1-0 scorelines. While the results have been good, the performances have been underwhelming given the talent within the Uruguayan squad. It took a late set-piece goal to see off Egypt and they wasted numerous chances against Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, they’re into the Round of 16 and have the liberty of rotating players for this clash if they wish to. It will be interesting to know how much Uruguay covets top spot in Group A given it remains unknown whether the winner will play Portugal or Spain from Group B. Technically Iran could also finish first or second in Group B if they upset Portugal in matchday 3. While Uruguay’s wins haven’t been pretty, one positive, apart from the winning without hitting their strides, is they have kept clean sheets in both matches. Uruguay have yet to concede a goal in 5 matches this year.
If Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani can find some form then Uruguay will be off to the races. In team news, Uruguay will be without centre-back Jose Gimenez due to a thigh injury. His absence is a blow. It was Gimenez who scored the winner against Saudi Arabia and he has been key to Uruguay’s clean sheets.
Russia’s dream start to the World Cup continued with a 3-1 win over Egypt in matchday 2 following their 5-0 matchday 1 win over Saudi Arabia 5-0. After a quiet first half in which each side managed just one shot on target, it took a bizarre 47th minute own goal to break the deadlock before Russia struck twice in three minutes to seal the result. They lead Group A due to a superior difference, so a draw would be sufficient to see them win the Group. In team news, Russia will again be without midfielder Alan Dzagoev after he picked up a hamstring injury against Saudi Arabia on matchday 1. In some opposing statistics, each of the last three European hosts of a World Cup won all three of their group stage fixtures (Germany 2006, France 1998, Italy 1990), however Russia have lost each of their last four World Cup fixtures against South American sides, scoring just once.
Betting
bet365 odds (subject to change):
Compare the latest bookmaker odds for Uruguay vs. Russia
Despite both sides having already qualified for the Round of 16, both will be keen to win this clash. Russia will want to impress in front of their home fans, while Uruguay will want to find some offensive rhythm and build momentum after struggling to break down Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Given Uruguay’s trend of starting slowly (as has happened in 3 of their last 4 matches) and Russia’s quiet first half against Egypt before 4 goals in total were scored in the second spell, I would back the second half to feature more goals than the first half.
Betting tip: back the second half to have more goals than the first half at 2.16 (Mad Bookie)
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