RUSSIA THE SQUAD Team
THE SQUAD
Akinfeev (c), Mario Fernandes, Kupetov, Ignashevich, Semyonov, Cheryshev, Kuzyayev, Gazinsky, Dzagoev, Smolov, Zobnin, Lunyov, Kudryashov, Granat, Al. Miranchuk, An. Miranchuk, Golovin, Zhirkov, Samedov, Gabulov, Yerokhin, Dzyuba, Smolnikov. (Manager: Stanislav Cherchesov)
PLAYER TO WATCH
World cup 2018, Alan Dzagoev is probably Russia’s best creative influence at the home tournament. Sidelined for much of the 2017-18 club campaign for CSKA Moscow with injury, he still managed to contribute 3 goals and 7 assists in 21 appearances in the Russian league. Listing Frank Lampard as a footballing role model, the 27-year-old central creator is quick with a pass and will certainly be the heartbeat for anything Russia will be trying to do.
World cup predictions 2018, Another one to watch is Villarreal winger and former Real Madrid youth product Denis Cheryshev. Although not a noted goalscorer (he is scoreless in 11 international caps), he possesses great dribbling ability, but it is that lack of end product that has plagued his professional career.
UNDER THE RADAR
World cup predictions 2018, Russia head into the World Cup with a set of twins at their disposal, one of whom is Lokomotiv Moscow attacking midfielder/striker Aleksei Miranchuk. Still only 22 years old, he appeared in 41 games for the capital city outfit, scoring 8 goals while largely being deployed as a number-10, the role he’ll likely play at the tournament behind the likes of Artem Dzyuba and Fyodor Smolov. Tall for an attacking midfielder, look for his late runs into the box.
KEY MAN OUT
World cup predictions 2018, Aleksandr Kokorin is probably the best striker in Russia right now, with good physical attributes and strong finishing ability. He scored 19 goals in 35 appearances for Zenit St. Petersburg, before unfortunately tearing his ACL in a Europa League clash against RB Leipzig.
ANALYSIS/PREDICTIONS
World cup predictions 2018, Russia, like South Africa in 2010, enter their own World Cup as the lowest ranked team (70th as of 7 June, 2018). While there is no denying the squad has some creative players in Dzagoev, Cheryshev and Samedov, it has the feel of a largely aging group lacking true firepower or a real point of difference. Both Cheryshev and Dzagoev will need to perform at their best for Russia to be able to advance. Luckily for them, this squad does have experience and, being in a group that isn’t packed full of stars, have a good chance to advance. Host nations tend to get a home-crowd boost in every tournament, but they will need to take full value from games against Saudi Arabia and Egypt to make it happen.
World cup 2018, Russia vs Saudi Arabia - Preview, Live Match | 14 Jun 2018, Russia v Saudi Arabia Live Commentary & Result, 14/06/2018, Russia vs. Saudi Arabia National Anthems (World Cup 2018), 2018 FIFA World Cup Group A, Russia vs Saudi Arabia - Football World Cup 2018 Luzhniki Stadium, Russia-Saudi Arabia - FIFA World Cup 2018 Head to Head Statistics, When is Russia vs Saudi Arabia, is it on ITV or BBC and what is latest, World Cup 2018 Primer: Group A.
SAUDI ARABIA THE SQUAD
THE SQUAD
Al-Mayouf, Al-Harbi, Os. Hawsawi (c), Al-Bulaihi, Om. Hawsawi, Al-Breik, Al-Faraj, Al-Shehri, Bahebri, Al-Sahlawi, Al-Khaibri, Kanno, Al-Shahrani, Otayf, Al-Khaibari, Al-Mogahwi, Al-Jassim, Al-Dawsari, Al-Muwallad, Assiri, Al-Mosailem, Al-Owais, M. Hawsawi (Manager: Juan Antonio Pizzi)
PLAYER TO WATCH
World cup predictions 2018, Saudi Arabia’s strength is definitely in their attack, and their tandem of Mohammad Al-Sahlawi and Fahad Al-Muwallad is one of the best strike forces in the whole of Asia. Boasting 83 caps and 38 goals between the two of them, they’re very much a complementary combination, with Al-Sahlawi bringing power and finishing, while Al-Muwallad is raw pace. Al-Muwallad especially is one to look out for, as one of the more highly rated youngsters in the Asian confederation, he already has 44 caps at the young age of 23 and is one of Saudi Arabia’s best prospects.
UNDER THE RADAR
World cup predictions 2018, The cover star of FIFA 16 for the Middle Eastern market, Yasser Al-Shahrani is an industrious full back who can play on either side of defence and even in a central midfield role. Still only 26 years old, he has established himself as one of the premier wing-backs in Asia, and is especially noted for his ability to swing in dangerous crosses with either foot.
KEY MAN OUT
World cup 2018, Perhaps a byproduct of the relative attacking riches that Saudi Arabia possess, but one man who can consider himself unlucky to not be in the squad is Al-Hilal striker Nawaf Al-Abed. One of Saudi Arabia’s more experienced options up front or out wide, he could probably blame a relatively poor strike rate (8 goals in 44 caps) for his exclusion from the squad. While listed as a striker/winger, his ideal role is probably as a second striker around a target man, or out wide; he was one of the last men cut and just misses out due to the aforementioned attacking duo.
ANALYSIS/PREDICTIONS
World cup predictions, Traditionally one of the stronger teams in AFC, Saudi Arabia are strong up front but, like a lot of smaller footballing nations, have weaknesses in defence. They won’t be easy to beat by any stretch of the imagination, but it is hard to see them advancing in this group. Both Egypt and Russia will be looking at this game as their key game to win. That said, as a strong counter-attacking side, “The Green Falcons” can sit back and absorb pressure before unleashing a rapid break and create a few problems.
QUALIFYING FORM
World cup predictions 2018, Saudi Arabia finished second in Group B during the third and final round of AFC qualifying, in a group that was topped by Japan and also featured Australia, the UAE, Iraq and Thailand. Saudi Arabia’s home form was key, winning 4 out of 5 games and drawing the other, while picking up road wins in Iraq and Thailand.
World cup predictions 2018, world cup 2018 predictions game, world cup qualifying predictions 2018, fifa world cup predictions 2018, football world cup 2018 predictions, world cup 2018 team predictions, world cup 2018 qualification predictions, 2018 world cup draw predictions, predictions for 2018 world cup, 2018 fifa world cup qualification predictions, fifa world cup 2018 qualifier predictions, world cup 2018 group predictions, world cup 2018 qualifying groups predictions, predictions of 2018 world cup, world cup 2018 qualifying predictions, world cup 2018 qualifying predictor, fifa world cup 2018 qualification predictions, uefa world cup qualifying 2018 predictions, russia 2018 world cup predictions, 2018 world cup roster predictions, world cup 2018 squad predictions, soccer world cup 2018 predictions.
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen