FIFA World Cup 2018: Egypt v/s Uruguay playing 11- Mo Salah on bench; Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani start

Egypt's Mohamed Salah has been named on the bench for his country's first 2018 World Cup match against Uruguay in Yekaterinberg on Friday. The Liverpool forward will not start against a full-strength Uruguay, in a setback for millions of Egyptians who are pinning their tournament hopes on the striker.

Egypt coach Hector Cuper decided not to risk his talisman despite telling reporters on Thursday that Salah had responded well to treatment on the shoulder injury he sustained in the Champions League final last month and was nearly 100 percent certain to play in Egypt's first appearance at the finals for 28 years.

It was not clear if he would come on as a substitute or whether Cuper would save him for the later group games against Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Salah, who turned 26 on Friday, came out with other players to inspect the pitch in Yekaterinburg. However, he was missing from the starting 11 named on the team's official Twitter account, which showed Marwan Mohsen leading the attack.

Goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, 45, missed out on the chance to become the oldest man to play in the World Cup finals, with Cuper naming Mohamed El-Shenawy in his place.

#
@Uruguay #2018#ThePharaohs#egy pic.twitter.com/3p5NDudg7A

— Egypt National Football Team (@Pharaohs) 15 June 2018

Uruguay sprang no surprises, with Diego Godin captaining the side and Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani up front. 

#EGYURU | Alineación confirmada de @Uruguay para el encuentro que disputará ante @Pharaohs a la hora 9 (Uy) por la 1a fecha del Grupo A de #Rusia2018.#ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/LVE4q5kSJg

— Selección Uruguaya (@Uruguay) 15 June 2018

Egypt are back in the World Cup finals for the first time since 1990 and their progress to the round of 16 could hinge on Salah enjoying the form that saw him voted England's Player of the Year by his fellow professionals.

Uruguay are the toughest team in Group A on paper, which also includes Russia and Saudi Arabia.