Suarez wins 100th Uruguay cap, Saudi Arabia drop goalkeeper
An Uruguayan fan with a mask of Dobby, the house-elf character from Harry Potter, poses in the crowd ahead of their 2018 World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don on June 20, 2018. PHOTO | PASCAL GUYOT |
What you need to know:
- Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani started alongside Suarez as the pair look to add to their combined tally of 93 international goals.
- Juan Antonio Pizzi made four alterations for the Saudis, with goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Muaiouf replaced by Mohammed Al-Owais after his disastrous performance against hosts Russia.
ROSTOV-ON-DON
Luis Suarez will make his 100th international appearance for Uruguay on Wednesday after being named in the starting XI for their second World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in Rostov.
The Barcelona forward will be hoping to improve on his performance in Uruguay's opening Group A game, when he missed a slew of chances in a narrow 1-0 win over Egypt.
The 31-year-old has a chequered World Cup past after his 2010 quarter-final handball against Ghana and his biting of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini four years ago, but has still scored five goals at the showpiece tournament in his career.
The two-time world champions can book their place in the last 16 with victory, while defeat would see Saudi Arabia eliminated after their 5-0 opening thrashing by Russia, while also knocking out Mohamed Salah's Egypt.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez made just two changes to the side which edged past Egypt through Jose Gimenez's late winner, with wingers Carlos Sanchez and Cristian Rodriguez coming in for Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Nahitan Nandez.
Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani started alongside Suarez as the pair look to add to their combined tally of 93 international goals.
Juan Antonio Pizzi made four alterations for the Saudis, with goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Muaiouf replaced by Mohammed Al-Owais after his disastrous performance against hosts Russia.
Starting line-ups for the World Cup match between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in Group A in Rostov on Wednesday ( 6pm kick-off):
Uruguay (4-4-2)
Fernando Muslera; Guillermo Varela, Jose Gimenez, Diego Godin (capt), Martin Caceres; Carlos Sanchez, Matias Vecino, Rodrigo Bentancur, Cristian Rodriguez; Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani
Coach: Oscar Tabarez (URU)
Saudi Arabia (4-5-1)
Mohammed Al-Owais; Mohammed Al-Burayk, Osama Hawsawi (capt), Ali Al-Bulayhi, Yasser Al-Shahrani; Hatan Bahbri, Salman Al-Faraj, Abdullah Otayf, Taiseer Al-Jassam, Salem Al-Dawsari, Fahad Al-Muwallad
Coach: Juan Antonio Pizzi (ESP)
Referee: Clement Turpin (FRA)
