Here we go, the time is quarter to June nearly midway through 2018, its been a long four years - two elections, brexit and the near worldwide domination of fidget spinners but we're nearly here, we've nearly made it to the World Cup. I come to you today readers armed with my traditional deadly weapons of facts, stats, odds and opinions. Ladies and gentlemen lets analyse the beejesus out of it!
Egypt
Going into this tournament one of the questions on most peoples minds is what can Mo Salah do on the world stage? A more pertinent question is who have Egypt got in their squad apart from Salah. The answer is not a lot. By and large the squad is made up of league players from Egypt and Asia. Apart from that there are familiar names such as Ahmed Elmohamady currently of Aston Villa and Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal. But that's it the only other squad item of note is the captain Essam El-Hadary who is a 45 year old goal keeper!
Usually a good bet in the African Cup - a competition which they've done well at the traditionally struggle when it comes to the World Cup to the extent this is the first time they've qualified since 1990. I don't fancy their chances to progress further and to be frank I'd quite like to have seen the Egyptian team of a decade ago qualify for the current team they need something special from Salah and the squad to go beyond themselves.
Russia
The home nation, its hard to be objective here as we have possibly the first hosts since the USA in 1994 who most people wouldn't mind seeing going out in the first round. However lets get passed the inhospitable front and see what we have. No stand out names however the squad is made up of veterans of the Russian league, add to the fact they are familiar with the conditions. Going through the squad there is a good mix of young and experienced with quite a few players having over fifty matches at Champions League and Europa level. One to watch and the definition of a dangerous floater.
Saudi Arabia
Made up of players from the Saudi league and the odd squad player in Spain even I've never heard of these players. I can't see them doing anything and only hope they embrace the tournament instead of putting eleven men behind the ball and hoping to go through on 0 goal difference.
Uruguay
The first team in this preview with more than one tasty player. Suarez and Cavani up front is a mouth watering prospect, Diego Godin and Maxi Pereira in defence. This squad has experience from all over the world from Galatasarays keeper to up and comers in Italy & Spain.
Its hard to look beyond Uruguay winning this group, they have the squad depth which other countries in this group don't have, the most impressive qualifying campaign of this group and that dynamic pairing up front.
Summing Up
Uruguay to win, with Russia runners up.
Egypt Vs Russia to be the match of this group.
Tips: A back of Uruguay to win the group, lay of Russia to win the group and Saudi Arabia to finish bottom.
One to watch: Luis Suarez, expect some out of this world play from him and the chance that he may try to eat someone to set up a future transfer to Brazil.
One to watch for the future: Rodrigo Bentancur - he has cropped up a number of times in my notebook this season after a number of good performances for Juventus.
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