Host nation, Russia are now on the brink of the World Cup’s last 16. They won Egypt 3-1 on Tuesday. Ahmed Fathi’s calamitous own goal (47) broke the deadlock, before Denis Cheryshev (59) and Artem Dzyuba (61) struck twice in two minutes to settle this Group A clash and move Russia onto a maximum six points after two games. Mo Salah, who was included from the start, pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with 17 minutes left, but it would now take an unlikely series of results to prevent the hosts from progressing while Egypt’s tournament is probably over after two straight defeats.
EGYPT TEAM NEWS
Team to play Russia: El Shenawy, Gabr, Hegazi, Fathi (c), Abdel-Shafy, Hamed, Salah, Elneny, Said, Hassan, Mohsen
RUSSIA TEAM NEWS
Team to play Egypt: Akinfeev (c), Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Cheryshev, Gazinsky, Zobnin, Golovin, Samedov, Dzyuba
PRE-MATCH STATS
This will be the first ever encounter between Russia and Egypt
Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia are unbeaten against African opposition at the World Cup (W2 D1).
Egypt have never beaten European opposition at the World Cup.
Russia (5) have already scored more goals in this tournament than they did in both 2014 (2) and 2002 (4).
No African team has played as many World Cup games without winning a single one than Egypt (D2 L3)
TONIGHT’S VENUE
The St Petersburg Stadium hosts some big games at this World Cup including tonight’s clash, one last-16 game, one semi-final and the third-place play-off.. It will also host three group matches at the pan-European Euro 2020 finals, as well as one quarter-final, and will be the future home to Zenit St Petersbur
EGYPT TEAM NEWS
Team to play Russia: El Shenawy, Gabr, Hegazi, Fathi (c), Abdel-Shafy, Hamed, Salah, Elneny, Said, Hassan, Mohsen
RUSSIA TEAM NEWS
Team to play Egypt: Akinfeev (c), Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Cheryshev, Gazinsky, Zobnin, Golovin, Samedov, Dzyuba
PRE-MATCH STATS