Mohamed Salah has been left out of the starting XI for Egypt’s opening
World Cup game against Uruguay.
A shoulder injury inflicted on him by Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos in
the Champions League final put the Liverpool forward’s World Cup
campaign in doubt, ruling him out of Egypt’s pre-tournament friendlies.
However, the attacker was declared fit on Thursday by coach Hector Cuper
ahead of his country’s first World Cup finals appearance for 28 years, but
instead takes his place on the bench.
Amr Warda is the man who slots into the right wing in Salah’s place,
joining Abdallah Said, Mahmoud Trezeguet and Marwan Mohsen in attack,
while Arsenal man Mohamed Elneny takes a place in midfield alongside
Tarek Hamed.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, meanwhile, has selected star strikers Luis
Suarez and Edinson Cavani in the first 11, while Atletico Madrid defenders
Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez and ex-Barcelona man Martin Caceres line
up in defence.
The Uruguayans have not won their opening match of a World Cup finals
since 1970, while the African nation have not won any of the four games
they have played in the history of the tournament.
Egypt XI: El Shenawy; Fathy, Gabr, Hegazy, Abdel Shafi; Hamed, Elneny,
Trezeguet, Said; Warda; Mohsen.
Uruguay starting XI: Muslera, Varela, Godin, Gimenez, Caceres; Nandez,
Betancur, Vecino, Arrascaeta, Suarez, Cavani. /