Uruguay-Russia Analysis

Uruguay face Russia in last round of group A, with both teams fighting to enter the knockout stages as first placed team.

 

EEach of them won in their first two matches, but Russia was more convincing, scoring 8 goals and conceding only 1. They look better going into this match, with high morale and team spirit based on previous performances.

  1. They play in a similar way, applying more direct approach to the game, and tend to set up high tempo when attacking, so a lot of fight for second balls is expected.
      Uruguay may look to lower the speed of Russia's attacks and sit deeper, waiting to hit them on the counter-attack or through set-piece play – they scored 2 goals, both coming from set-pieces.

  2. Another reason for that may be in Dzyuba's performances since the WC started. He has been unplayable in the air, so Godin and Gimenez will need a lot of help from their midfielders in containing lay off play in between the lines.

Uruguay's attack depend much on link up play between Suarez and Cavani, but Russia looked solid in containing penetration through central areas of the field and those two could have issues to get the ball from midfield.