The month-long festival of football has just started in Russia. The biggest sports event of the year FIFA World Cup. As the days go on it’ll only get better. As we enter day 2 of the world cup, three fixtures are waiting for us. Yesterday we saw host winning comfortably against Saudi Arabia.
Portugal against Spain will be the top game to look out in today’s fixture. In another match, Mohamed Salah’s Egypt will be against Uruguay whereas Iran will test Morocco.
Portugal Vs Spain:
The two neighbours will be fighting and both will be looking for a win to start their world cup. The two have met just once in the world cup. Spain won that encounter 1-0 in the round of 16, thanks to a David Villa goal. Counting both world cup and Euro Cup the two have encountered four times and just producing four goals.
Spain has qualified for its 11th world cup in a row and 15 in total. It is the longest ever streak of participation. On the other hand, Portugal is playing its 7th world cup, their 5th appearance in a row.
Cristiano Ronaldo was directly involved in more goals than any other player in 2018 world cup qualifiers, scoring 15 and assisting other 3. However, he has never scored against Spain.
Egypt Vs Uruguay:
Uruguay beat Egypt in their only previous meeting, defeating them 2-0 in Alexandria in August-2006. Uruguay is unbeaten against African opposition at the world cup. Egypt is playing their third World Cup and first since 1990, thanks to Mohamed Salah’s Penalty in their last qualifier.
Egypt is so far winless in the world cup drawing two and losing two of their four games. In fact, no African nation has played as many games in the competition without winning a single one.
On the other hand, Uruguay has lost only one of their last eight world cup group games against the surprise package of 2014, Costa Rica. Uruguay was the first world cup winners, in 1930. They also won their second participation in 1950.
Past is done and they will be facing Egypt, Russia and Saudi Arabia and look like a favourite to progress with the power of Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani.
Morocco vs Iran:
This is the first encounter in group B. Morocco and Iran have never met at the world cup. In fact, they met once which ended up in a draw. They both look underdog in front of Spain and Portugal the favourites to progress from group B.
