Group A

RUSSIA

Team: Russia
Current FIFA Ranking: 70
Previous World Cup appearances: 11 - 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990 (all as USSR), 1994, 2002, 2014
Best World Cup result: Fourth - 1966
Group fixtures: June 14 vs Saudi Arabia, June 19 vs Egypt, June 25 vs Uruguay
Captain: Igor Akinfeev
Star Player: Aleksandr Golovin
Head coach: Stanislav Cercesov

RUSSIA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev, Vladimir Gabulov, Andrey Lunev
Defenders: Sergei Ignashevich, Mario Fernandes, Vladimir Granat, Fyodor Kudryashov, Andrei Semyonov, Igor Smolnikov, Ilya Kutepov, Yuri Zhirkov
Midfielders: Daler Kuzyaev, Aleksandr Golovin, Alan Dzagoev, Roman Zobnin, Aleksandr Samedov, Yuri Gazinsky, Anton Miranchuk, Denis Cheryshev, Aleksandr Erokhin
Forwards: Artyom Dzyuba, Aleksei Miranchuk, Fyodor Smolov

As hosts, there was no need for Russia to go through any qualification process and as such they are a side that are coming into the competition largely untested.

They are, however, eager to give a strong account of themselves to the watching world, having failed to progress past the group stage of the competition since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Even on home soil, though, their path will not be straightforward. Uruguay have an array of attacking talent at their disposal while Egypt are expected to be carried by Mohamed Salah.

It is essential they get their tournament off to a flying start against Saudi Arabia.

SAUDI ARABIA

Team: Saudi Arabia
Current FIFA Ranking: 67
Previous World Cup appearances: 4 - 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006
Best World Cup result: Round of 16 - 1994
Group fixtures: June 14 vs Russia, June 20 vs Uruguay, June 25 vs Egypt
Captain: Osama Hawsawi
Star Player: Fahad Al-Muwallad
Head coach: Juan Antonio Pizzi

SAUDI ARABIA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Mohammed Al-Owais, Yasser Al-Musailem, Abdullah Al-Mayuf
Defenders: Mansoor Al-Harbi, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Mohammed Al-Burayk, Motaz Hawsawi, Osama Hawsawi, Ali Al-Bulaihi, Omar Othman
Midfielders: Abdullah Alkhaibari, Abdulmalek Alkhaibri, Abdullah Otayf, Taiseer Al-Jassam, Hussain Al-Moqahwi, Salman Al-Faraj, Mohamed Kanno, Hatan Bahbir, Salem Al-Dawsari, Yahia Al-Shehri
Forwards: Fahad Al-Muwallad, Mohammad Al-Sahlawi, Muhannad Assiri

Saudi Arabia qualified for the World Cup by finishing second top of AFC qualifying Group B, edging out Australia on account of their marginally better goal difference.

It made for a nerve-shredding final round of matches, with Saudi Arabia recording a 1-0 win over Japan in their final match to finally book their place in Russia.

They certainly won’t lack match practice, having played a myriad of friendlies over the winter and spring months.

Indeed, by the time they take their place in the opening game against Russia, they will have played a staggering 17 times since that Japan victory.

Egypt

Team: Egypt
Current FIFA Ranking: 45
Previous World Cup appearances: 2 - 1934, 1990
Best World Cup result: First round/Group Stage
Group fixtures: June 15 vs Uruguay, June 19 vs Russia, June 25 vs Saudi Arabia
Captain: Essam El Hadary
Star Player: Mohamed Salah
Head coach: Hector Cuper

EGYPT SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Essam El Hadary, Mohamed El-Shennawy, Sherif Ekramy
Defenders: Ahmed Fathi, Abdallah Said, Saad Samir, Ayman Ashraf, Mohamed Abdel-Shafy, Ahmed Hegazi, Ali Gabr, Ahmed Elmohamady, Omar Gaber
Midfielders: Tarek Hamed, Mahmoud Shikabala, Sam Morsy, Mohamed Elneny, Mahmoud Kahraba, Ramadan Sobhi, Trezeguet, Amr Warda
Forwards: Marwan Mohsen, Mohamed Salah, Mahmoud Elwensh

Egypt’s history with the World Cup dates back longer than any other African country, as they were the first to take part in the competition way back in 1934.

However, their flirtations with the tournament have typically been brief. They were knocked out by Hungary in the first round of that event and went the same way when they finally qualified again 56 years later.

After another near-three-decade absence, they have returned, spearheaded by Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, one of the hottest players in the world game over the last season, as they seek to progress for the first time.

URUGUAY

Team: Uruguay
Current FIFA Ranking: 14
Previous World Cup appearances: 12 – 1930, 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2010, 2014
Best World Cup result: Winners - 1930, 1950
Group fixtures: June 15 vs Egypt, June 20 vs Saudi Arabia, June 25 vs Russia
Captain: Diego Godin
Star Player: Luis Suarez
Head coach: Oscar Tabarez

URUGUAY SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera, Martin Silva, Martin Campana
Defenders: Diego Godin, Sebastian Coates, Jose Maria Gimenez, Maximiliano Pereira, Gaston Silva, Martin Caceres, Guillermo Varela
Midfielders: Lucas Torreira, Matias Vecino, Rodrigo Bentancur, Carlos Sanchez, Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Diego Laxalt, Cristian Rodriguez, Jonathan Urretaviscaya, Nahitan Nandez
Forwards: Cristhian Stuani, Maximiliano Gomez, Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez

Although Uruguay has a population of little under four million, it packs a historical punch in the World Cup like few others. The South American nation has twice celebrated victory in the competition, including in its very first edition, which it hosted.

After refusing to participate until 1950, they stunned home team Brazil in the final by winning 2-1 at the Maracana.

Their exploits have finished since those heady days, but they have shown in each of the last two editions that they are still a force to be reckoned with.

Barcelona ace Luis Suarez will lead their charge in Russia, where they will expect to reach the second round as a minimum.