After each matchday of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Sportsnet.ca’s World Cup Daily blog will recap the day’s events, and look ahead to the next day’s slate of games.
Here’s what happened on Monday, in case you missed it…
THE RESULTS
Uruguay 3, Russia 0 in Samara: Match report || match stats
Saudi Arabia 2, Egypt 1 in Volgograd: Match report || match stats
Spain 2, Morocco 2 in Kaliningrad: Match report || match stats
Iran 1, Portugal 1 in Saransk: Match report || match stats
MAIN TALKING POINTS
A reality check for the hosts
It wasn’t so much a matter of the chickens coming home to roost for Russia on Monday, but rather an entire hen house. The host nation breezed through its opening two games of the competition, winning both contests to book their spot in the knockout round and build a little momentum. Of course, those wins came against what can charitably described as modest opponents: A Saudi Arabia side that is arguably the worst team in this tournament, and a one-dimensional Egypt that relies entirely on Mohammed Salah for goals. Russia came crashing down to Earth on Monday.
Against Uruguay and its rock-solid defence, the Russians found the going considerably tougher. The hosts conceded twice in the opening 23 minutes and were reduced to 10 men before halftime. Russia’s attack, so fluent against the Egyptians and Saudis, never got going and didn’t register a single shot on target until late in the second half. Russia didn’t start its two best players – Aleksandr Golovin and Mario Fernandes – out of fear of losing them to suspension, but the drop-off was still pretty big. If Russia thought Uruguay was a stiff challenge, wait until they face Spain in the next round. On can only wonder how the Russians would have fared had they faced Uruguay in their opening game, and how things would have played out for them the rest of the group stage.
Beware of Uruguay
Uruguay’s credentials as a legitimate World Cup contender haven’t been talked up much in the international press. That’s a shame because La Celeste have quietly been the tournament’s most consist team. Manager Oscar Tabarez’s side has been resolute in its defending, while the magnificent Diego Godin is starring for a Uruguay team that has yet to give up a goal. Uruguay is the first team to win all three of its group games without conceding since Argentina in 1998.
Granted, the quality of opposition has to be taken into account. Hosts Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are hardly world beaters. Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, Uruguay’s lethal 1-2 scoring punch up front, haven’t set the tournament on fire, despite combining for three goals. All of Uruguay’s goals have come off set pieces, none from open play. Still, there is something about this Uruguayan team, so organized and professional and balanced, that makes them a threat to go far in the knockout round.
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