2018 World Cup Group A: Hosts Russia handed easiest draw

The opening game of the 2018 World Cup will be contested between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia on June 14. Egypt and Uruguay complete Group A, which, according to the official FIFA world rankings, means Russia have be drawn in the lowest ranked group (average ranking 45).

Russia

There will be plenty of pressure on Stanislav Cherchesov’s side, particularly as they crashed out of Euro 2016 without winning a single game.  A 3-0 defeat to Wales was their last competitive match, as they qualified for this tournament automatically.

Uruguay

Uruguay are the highest FIFA ranked nation in Group A (21) and are clear favourites to go through to the knockout phase as winners with Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez in attack.

Cavani, who finished qualification as Uruguay’s top scorer (10 goals), currently leads the charts in Europe’s top five leagues (17). Luis Suarez may be out of form for Barcelona, but he is Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer and still one of the best strikers on the planet.

Egypt

The Pharaohs could prove the biggest surprise package in Group A, particularly with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in attack. The 25-year-old is the top scorer in the Premier League (12) and the former African Cup of Nations champions will certainly bank on his goals to fire them through to the next round of the World Cup.

This is only the third time Egypt have qualified for a World Cup and their first since the 1990 edition. Having failed progressed past the group stage in their last two attempts, they have a real opportunity to create history in Russia.

Saudi Arabia

This is the first World Cup Saudi Arabia have qualified for since 2006 and are Juan Antonio Pizzi’s side are the lowest FIFA ranked country that will be on show in Russia.

The other three nations will earmark fixtures against Saudi Arabia as games where they will look for three points, but Pizzi’s side drew 1-1 with Uruguay in a friendly in 2014 and even beat them in the build up to the 2002 World Cup.