World Cup 2018 the Definitive Team Guide Everything You Need to Know About the Teams Competing in Russia This Summer
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World Cup 2018 The Definitive Team Guide Everything you need to know about the teams competing in Russia this Summer. This 64-page guide will improve your knowledge of every team at this years World Cup from Argentina to Uruguay and every team in- between. Totum Sport and Soccerex have worked tirelessly to bring you all the facts you need to know. The guide will focus on every country - giving you insight into which players are the one’s to watch, and all of the stats including the youngest and oldest players in every squad. We’ve even added in all of the information you need on the managers, the most capped and the top goalscorer. World Cup 2018 The Definitive Team Guide World Cup 2018 The Definitive Team Guide Team Name: Russia Biography: Cherchesov will look to create a strong team spirit and get the best out of a squad that know each other very well as the vast majority play their domestic football in Russia. They will however be rusty; they have not participated in a competitive match since their exit from the group stage in the 2016 European Championships in France. They will have home advantage and they will look to emulate South Korea’s exploits from 2002 as they exceeded all expectations. Manager: Stanislav Cherchesov As a player, Cherchesov represented Russia as goalkeeper, he played for Russia and the 1994 and 2002 World Cups and also at Euro 96. As a manager Cherchesov had success at his most recent club venture at Legia Warsaw, he guided the Polish capital club to a League and cup double in 2015-16 before departing his post to take up the Russian managerial post. Top Scorer: Fydor Smolov Captain: Igor Akinfeev The Krasnodar striker boasts a 1 in 3 record The CSKA Moscow goalkeeper captains the host for Russia, scoring 12 in 30 appearances. In nation, the shot-stopper has represented Russia domestic football he has scored 52 times in 73 on 104 occasions and has won the Russian games for Krasnodar. Premier League with CSKA on 6 occasions. Fixtures Russia V Saudi Arabia - 14/06 - 16:00 - Luzhniki Stadium Russia V Egypt - 19/06 - 19:00 - St Petersburg Stadium Uruguay V Russia - 25/06 - 15:00 - Samara Arena One to Watch: Aleksandr Golovin Let’s Crunch the Numbers... At just 21 years of age the CSKA Moscow midfielder is not the most experienced member of the Russian squad but he is amongst the most talented. His OLDEST PLAYER MOST CAPS YOUNGEST PLAYER impressive displays for CSKA Moscow have got Golovin noticed not only in Russia but across Europe, he has represented CSKA Moscow 81 times in just 4 years and Russia 17 times. 38Sergi Ignasevich 120Sergei Ignasevich 20Fydor Chalov World Cup 2018 The Definitive Team Guide World Cup 2018 The Definitive Team Guide Team Name: Egypt Biography: There were wild scenes on the streets of Cairo when Mohamed Salah scored a last minute penalty in front of 75,000 Egyptians as they sealed a 2-1 win over Congo to claim their place in Russia. This is Egypt’s third appearance on the World Cup stage previously appearing in 1934 and 1990. The team will be heavily reliant on Salah and it will be a race against the clock to get Salah fit in time for the World Cup after sustaining a shoulder injury against Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Manager: Hector Cuper Hector Cuper is the man who will lead Egypt into the tournament. The former Inter Milan and Valencia manager has struck a balance of promising youngsters and ACON winners in his Egypt squad. The Argentinian favours a defensive approach but The Pharaohs have a star player in Mohamed Salah that will be the focal point in their attack. Top Scorer: Mo Salah Captain: Essam El-Hadary Mo Salah has scored an incredible 33 The 45 year old Al Ahly Goalkeeper will goals in 57 caps. represent Egypt as captain. Fixtures Egypt V Uruguay -15/06 - 13:00 - Ekaterinburg Arena One to Watch: Mo Salah Russia V Egypt - 19/06 - 19:00 - St Petersburg Stadium Salah has set the Premier League on fire this year with a record breaking 32 Saudi Arabia - 25/06 - 15:00 - Samara Arena goals, claiming the golden boot in the process. His pace and tricks have got the better of most teams in the Premier League and Europe and he will be looking to cause problems on the national stage. Let’s Crunch the Numbers... OLDEST PLAYER MOST CAPS YOUNGEST PLAYER 45Essam El-Hadary 156Essam El-Hadary 21Ramadan Sobhi World Cup 2018 The Definitive Team Guide World Cup 2018 The Definitive Team Guide Team Name: Saudi Arabia Biography: Saudi Arabia have been regulars at World Cup Finals in recent history. The Green Falcons qualified for four consecutive tournaments from 1994 to 2006 – making the last 16 in 1994. They have missed out on the last 2 World Cups but make their return this summer. Manager: Juan Pizzi Pizzi and his Saudi Arabia squad more than earned their spot in the finals, finishing above Australia in qualifying. Pizzi guided Chile to their second Copa America championship in 2016, beating the likes of Argentina, Mexico and Colombia along the way. Pizzi resigned from the Chile National Team coach after Chile failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Top Scorer: Mohammand Al-Sahlawi Captain: Osama Hawsawi Mohammand Al-Sahlawi – The Al-Nassr The Mecca born defender will captain the Saudi forward has 28 goals in 38 appearances for Arabian team in Russia. He has represented Saudi Arabia. He also boasts an impressive 102 Saudia Arabia 134 times, scoring 7 times, goals in 174 games for his club side. including once in qualifying. Fixtures Saudi Arabia V Russia - 14/06 - 16:00 - Krestovsky Stadium Saudi Arabia V Uruguay - 20/06 - 16:00 - Central Stadium Yekaterinburg Saudi Arabia v Egypt - 25/06 - 15:00 - Volograd Arena One to Watch: Osama Hawsawi Let’s Crunch the Numbers... Few players in the whole World Cup competition possess the kind of international experience of Saudi Arabia captan Osama Hawsawi. The Al-Hilal OLDEST PLAYER MOST CAPS YOUNGEST PLAYER defender has been an ever present for Saudia Arabia since making his debut in 2007, amassing 134 caps in the process. His calming influence in the back line will be key for Saudi Arabia. 34Osama Hawsawi 134Osama Hawsawi Abdullah21 Al-Khaibari World Cup 2018 The Definitive Team Guide World Cup 2018 The Definitive Team Guide Team Name: Uruguay Biography: Uruguay are a nation with a real history with the World Cup. They were the first ever hosts of the first World Cup competition in 1930, where they also won the competition. With Godin steadying up their back line and the threat of Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani up top they will cause a lot of teams problems. Manager: Oscar Taberez Taberez is the longest serving manager in the World Cup, having been in charge of Uruguay since 2006. He delivered success in 2011, brining the Copa America to Uruguay. Top Scorer: Luis Suarez Captain: Diego Godin Suarez boasts an impressive 50 goals in 97 Godin is a rock at the back for Uruguay and club appearances for Uruguay. side Atletico Madrid. Godin won the Copa America with Uruguay in 2011 and was an integral part of the Atletico Madrid side that won La Liga in the 2013-14 season. He recently captained Atletico to a 3-0 win over Marseille in the 2017-18 Europa League final, being named in the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season in the process. Fixtures Egypt v Uruguay - 15/06 - 13:00 - Ekaterinburg Arena Uruguay v Saudi Arabia - 20/06 - 16:00 - Rostov Arena Uruguay v Russia - 25/06 - 15:00 - Samara Arena Let’s Crunch the Numbers... OLDEST PLAYER MOST CAPS YOUNGEST PLAYER One to Watch: Luis Suarez Since moving from Liverpool in 2014, Luis Suarez has scored 110 goals in 130 appearances for Barcelona. His 25 goals in 33 appearances this season has helped Barcelona to the La Liga title and Copa Del Rey double. His last World Cup ended on a real negative note as he was handed a lengthy FIFA ban for a bite on Giorgio Chiellini. He will be desperate to make the headlines for the right Martin Silva Maxi Pereira Rodrigo Bentancur reasons in Russia. 35 124 21 World Cup 2018 The Definitive Team Guide World Cup 2018 The Definitive Team Guide Team Name: Iran Biography: This is the first time in their history that Iran have made back-to-back World Cups. They were the third team to qualify for the competition after Russia and Brazil. They were renowned for being hard to break down in the 2014 World Cup, a last minute Lionel Messi wonder goal denied Iran a famous 0-0 draw. They also held Nigeria to a 0-0 draw. Manager: Carlos Queiroz Former Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has been in charge of the Iranian national side since 2011. He has done a fantastic job having earned qualification to the World Cup with two games to spare in a group that included South Korea, China and Syria. Top Scorer: Reza Ghoochannejhad Captain: Masoud Shojaei The Heerenveen centre forward hasn’t been The Iranian captain comes fresh off the back hitting on all cylinders in the Eredivisie this year, of a successful 2017-18 campaign as his AEK scoring 8 times in 33 appearances. For Iran his Athens side were crowned Greek Superleague record stands as 17 goals in 41 appearances.