A sparkling second-half performance ensured that Russia is virtually guaranteed to qualify for the knock-out rounds for the first time in its modern history, following a 3-1 victory over a poor Egypt.
Swapping out dynamic but underperforming striker Fedor Smolov for towering Artem Dzyuba, Russia looked to exploit Egypt’s vulnerability to crosses, evident in its opening-game defeat against Uruguay. The midfielders diligently looked for the target man from all over the pitch, but deliveries lacked quality, and Dzyuba, who came on to score in Russia’s rout of Saudi Arabia, was tightly marked.
For Egypt, star man Mohamed Salah, playing his first game after a month of injury, appeared tentative, and unwilling to embark on his famously devastating runs towards goal, though the Liverpool attacker still looked like the Pharaohs’ most dangerous outlet, with a shot that whistled past the post.
Both teams looked determined not to sit back waiting for errors, but lacked the quality to do damage, in what was predicted to be the deciding game of Group A.......
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World Cup 2018: Russia beat Egypt 3-1 to qualify for knock-out rounds
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