Russia are bidding to avoid the ignominy of becoming only the second World Cup hosts to fail to reach the knockout stage and have been given a good draw in a wide-open Group A.
Stanislav Cherchesov’s team will open the tournament against Saudi Arabia in Moscow on June 14, although will have to be vastly improved from their abysmal Euro 2016 campaign to get past either Uruguay or Egypt.
Two-time world champions Uruguay will be heavy favourites to progress with a fearsome strike partnership of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.
But the rest of their squad is not as strong as the one that reached the semi-finals in 2010 and they may rely too much on Paris Saint-Germain star Cavani and the brilliant Suarez, who will be looking to right the wrongs of four years ago when he was banned for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.
This will be Russia’s fourth World Cup since the break-up of…
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