Russia got its World Cup campaign off to a dream start with a 5-0 thumping of Saudi Arabia but faces an entirely different beast in the form of Egypt, which should be revitalised by the return of talismanic striker Mohamed Salah.
The host faces the north Africans here on Tuesday and defeat would almost certainly condemn Egypt to an early exit .
Russia tops Group A on goal difference ahead of favourite Uruguay, which needed a last-gasp goal to scrape past a dogged Egypt 1-0 in its first game of the tournament.
Egypt, coached by Argentine Hector Cuper, is still targeting a second-placed finish in the group, but must beat Russia to have any hope of achieving that goal.
Cuper’s team showed against Uruguay it will not defend as generously as the hapless Saudis, and Salah, who should make his first start, will relish the chance to torment Russia’s aging defence.
While defender Yuri Zhirkov still has plenty of pace, he will find it hard to cope with the lightning-quick Salah, who cut a swathe of destruction through European defences for Liverpool last season while coming in from the right wing on to his lethal left foot. The 23-year-old Mahmoud Hassan proved to be a handful against Uruguay and Russia’s Brazil-born right back Mario Fernandes will need all his wits about him to keep him quiet.
Dzagoev will be missed
While Egypt is strengthened immeasurably by Salah’s return, Russia will be weakened by the absence of creative midfielder Alan Dzagoev, who was injured in the opener.
Dzagoev was replaced by Denis Cheryshev, who earned himself instant cult status with a well-taken brace.
Egypt is set up to play on the counter-attack, with Cuper asking his midfielders and defenders to stick close together in two rigid banks of four and restrict the spaces that opponents seek to exploit. The game plan is simple — get the ball into Salah’s feet quickly and let him do what he does best.
If he is match-fit, Russia will be hard pressed to stop him helping Egypt to its first victory at a World Cup.
