On the eve of Egypt’s FIFA World Cup opening match, Egypt's coach Hector Cuper confirmed on Thursday at a press conference that forward Mohamed Salah is fit to play in their clash against Uruguay.
On the eve of Egypt’s FIFA World Cup opening match, Egypt's coach Hector Cuper confirmed on Thursday at a press conference that forward Mohamed Salah is fit to play in their clash against Uruguay.
Salah's appearance in their first Group A, scheduled for Friday, was in doubt after he sustained a shoulder injury that forced him out of the UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid on May 26.
"He [Salah] has had a very good recovery with special care. I can almost assure he is ready to play, unless some last-minute thing unexpectedly comes up," Cuper said at the press conference. Egypt's coach stressed that Salah has what it takes to be the top scorer of the tournament.
"(Salah's) evolution has been incredible, he is very talented and no one can think he can't achieve an objective of this nature. (Salah) is in the right kind of shape to be the top scorer," Cuper added. The coach did not reveal whether or not goalkeeper Essam al-Hadary will play against Uruguay; Al-Hadary is set to be, at 45, the oldest player to take part in the World Cup.
The World Cup kicked off on Thursday where hosts Russia crushed Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the tournament opener. It was also Russia’s first victory in an international match since October 7.
The result was exactly what Russia needed amid concerns they would struggle to get out of the group stage. Saudi Arabia's strategy of trying to control the ball did not work out. Russia, without putting in an extraordinary performance, led 2-0 by half-time on the strength of Yuri Gazinsky's goal in the 12th minute and the first of Cheryshev's brace in the 43rd.
Cheryshev entered the match at the 24-minute mark, replacing the injured Alan Dzagoev. Things went from bad to worse for the Saudis in the second half as Aleksandr Golovin sent a ball into the box, where Artem Dzyuba made the most of it, notching a third goal in the 71st minute.
Cheryshev scored his second goal in the 91st and Golovin made it 5-0 in the 92nd, converting on a direct free kick.
Russia takes an early lead in Group A, whose other two teams, Uruguay and Egypt, will face each other Friday.
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