Russia, Uruguay fight for top spot

Written off as no-hopers before the World Cup, Russia heads to Samara for a game which will see the winner secure top spot in Group A following the elimination of Saudi Arabia and Egypt. 

A draw would also be good enough to give Russia first place, thanks to the eight goals from two matches that have made believers out of fans used to decades of World Cup futility.

Uruguay however is likely to provide the type of stern test Russia will need to overcome if it is launch an extended run in the knockout rounds. 

Yet the host is brimming with confidence having made it past the group stage of a World Cup for the first time since the Soviet Union lost to Belgium in the last 16 in 1986. 

Russia had won just two of nine World Cup matches before kicking off the most watched event on the planet with a 5-0 rout of the Saudis. 

Russia followed its Saudi thrashing by limiting Egypt’s star striker Mohamed Salah -- nursing a shoulder injury but always dangerous -- to one goal in an impressive 3-1 win last Tuesday in Saint Petersburg. 

Salah was contained by a Russian defence that had lost three starters and was forced to call back 38-year-old Sergei Ignashevich from international retirement. Ignashevich turns 39 on the eve of the final on July 15 that Russia retain improbable dreams of playing in. 

A poll conducted in the wake of its win over Egypt showed just 14 percent think Russia can lift the trophy. 

It was 11 percent when coach Stanislav Cherchesov’s charges were plodding their wave through a seven-match winless streak that saw their ranking slip to a tournament-worst 70th. But Cherchesov always thought Russia was underrated and a triumph over Uruguay’s Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani would do more to prove the mustachioed manager right. 

It would also see Russia looking more confidently at the permutations of whom it might encounter in the quarter-finals. 

The possibilities there range from France and Argentina to an impressive looking Croatia. Midfielder Denis Cheryshev has been one of the World Cup’s big discoveries and a natural leader on a team without stars. “We have to be very happy with our wins,” said the 27-year-old. “But this is just the start.”