Group A final standings
Heartbreak for Egypt!
95th minute: GOALLLLLLLL, SAUDI ARABIA WIN THIS AT THE DEATH! Salem with a lovely finish after a very patient build-up down the right. They snatch third place away from Egypt.
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FT: Uruguay are looking like they are in a very good space. The strikers are among goals, the midfield looked better today and the defence is flawless. They will not be an easy team to break down for anyone.
FT: Uruguay 3-0 Russia
Russia’s worst every World Cup defeat but Uruguay were too good today. The South American team are yet to concede a goal in the tournament and are the Group A toppers. They will face the team that finishes second in Group B (it could be either Spain, Portugal or Iran).
For Russia, it was a reality check. Things are only going to get tougher against the big teams and their level today wasn’t good enough.
89’: GOAAALL!!!! Finally, Cavani has a goal. Godin got the first header in from the corner and Cavani was ready to pounce. Just in time for the KO rounds, Uruguay’s lethal pair (Cavani and Suarez) has found their touch.
89’: Russia’s delivery from free kicks has been poor today. Very poor. Can’t remember one ball being on target today from a set piece. Just not good enough.
84’: Smolov with a wonderful run down the left side. Showing some good skills too. Russia have shown enough today to show that they will be a chance in the KO rounds too. Today was just not their day.
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Egypt
It is the El-hadary show in Volgograd! Makes two good saves in quick succession to keep the scoreline 1-1, 15 minutes to go in this game.
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80’: Another chance for Cavani. Suarez sends a ball across the face of the goal for Cavani to run onto it but it is just out of Cavani’s reach.
78’: El Maestro has worked his magic again. After a drab display in the last game, Uruguay’s midfield have been much more enterprising today.
74’: Dzyuba, with a brilliant chance in the box, smashes it wide. It has been that kind of day for Russia. He wanted to bury it in the top left corner but hit it into the stands instead. It is their first shot at goal in over an hour.
70’: The Russian performance today is being seen by many in a positive light for an entirely different reason.
66’: Uruguay once had a bit of a mental barrier against European teams – going 15 matches without beating one. But they have since worked their way around that and are playing solid football. Russia are doing most of the running around but they will tire soon (given that they are a man down).
60’: Russia still going at it. At least, they are losing in spirit. They are making this very good Uruguay defence work very hard today.
53’: Russia are playing well after coming back on the field. Nice hold up play. It just makes Uruguay think a bit more and gives the massive home crowd something to cheer.
47’: Cavani eventually stepped up to take the free kick and didn’t do much with it. It remains 0-0.
46’: We are back and Uruguay have a free kick in a dangerous position. Suarez earned it and he will want it.
Half-time scores
Uruguay 2-0 Russia
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Egypt
HT: Russia have been okay for most part but being a man down is not going to help them. But both sides would look to get through this match without any further damage. Uruguay, known to be a tough team, have surprisingly not got a single yellow card in the tournament so far. A record they would be keen to maintain; one that will also make Tabarez very happy.
45 + 2’: HT. That was Uruguay’s half by a lot. They scored a goal, got lucky with another one and then saw a Russian player get a red card too. They should win this is a canter.
News from the Egypt-Saudi Arabia game: El-Hadary comes up with a massive, massive save. What a guy!!!!
36’: Red card! Smolnikov is off – his second yellow for a rash challenge on Laxalt. Russia were already two goals down and now, they are a man down too. There will be no coming back from this.
29’: Suarez is on song today. He is troubling the Russian defence no end with his movement. Uruguay have never lost a two-goal lead in the World Cup. This is not looking good for the hosts. Well, they are already through to the next round but their confidence might take a hit.
EGYPT TAKE THE LEAD
23’: GOAAAL! Unlucky for Russia but Laxalt’s shot from distance took a huge deflection and did everyone in. The Russians are crumbling here. It is an own goal. Cheryshev was the man who got his leg in the way.
16’: Russia are launching attack after attack at the Uruguay goal now. They are sitting back. Some good spirit being shown here.
10’: GOOOAAAALLLL!!! Smart free-kick from Uruguay. The Russian goalkeeper took a step to his left and Suarez chose to go low and to the right. It did the trick. This is Suarez’s 53rd goal for Uruguay. If Uruguay win, they will face the second team in Group B.
9’: Uruguay have a free kick just outside the box and Gazinsky has a yellow for an ill-timed tackle.
6’: Uruguay are better on the ball today than in the earlier matches. In their last match, they were guilty of being far too defensive but today, they seem more on the ball. Russia haven’t still found their rhythm.
3’: Cavani brought down by a fair but tough tackle. He isn’t happy though but the referee is having none of that. In Uruguay, all the school children get time off to watch the matches... including this one. What joy!
1’: And we are off. Russia have left out their main creative man, Golovin, today. Most likely because he is already on a yellow.
Time for the national anthems: The top team of Group A – essentially the winner of this match – is likely to face either Spain, Portugal or Iran... depending on results later tonight.
Home advantage: The crowd has played a big role for Russia. They have motivated the team and the team in turn has boosted its performance to levels that not many thought were possible.
A win for history? Uruguay have never won all three of their group games. Russia, in comparison, have achieved the feat once: in 1966 (Korea DPR, Italy, Chile).
Russia (Soviet Union) dominate: The sides have met 8 times and Russia dominate with 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. Their most recent meeting was a friendly in Moscow in 2012 and that ended 1-1. The home crowd support has allowed this Russia to play much better than most experts expected.
8 games
6 wins
1 draw
1 loss
Fun facts: Fernando Muslera becomes the most experienced player for Uruguay in World Cups. The goalkeeper, who has 14 appearances now, overtakes Ladislao Mazurkiewicz who had 13 games.
Meanwhile, At 45 years and five months, Egypt keeper Essam El-Hadary is set to become the oldest player ever to feature in a World Cup. He has been named in the starting XI at Volgograd.
Hello and welcome to the live updates of what will be the final round robin match of these teams. Hosts Russia, who have been sparkling form, face two-time champions Uruguay. Oscar Tabarez’s side, despite not showing enough bite in attack (sorry!), have got the points on the board.
Russia, who were a much-vaunted side before the tournament started, have sparkled in attack. With eight goals from two games, Russia have are the joint top-scorers in the World Cup. Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov said he would stick with the same line-up that beat Egypt 3-1. “We don’t choose our opponent in the last 16. We’re not doing the calculations, we’ve never done them,” said Cherchesov. “And in any case we don’t have the choice, they play after us. We know both teams, the football gods will decide.”
(With inputs from AFP)