World Cup: Uruguay is the favorite to advance to the knockout stage in Group A
Sports Scene
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The World Cup's Group A consists of Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, and Egypt. The host nation hopes to impress in front of their home crowd, while Uruguay and Egypt boast two of the best strikers in the world: Mohamed Salah and Luis Suarez.
Russia's midfielder Yuri Zhirkov and Russia's midfielder Alexander Golovin attend a training session in Novogorsk outside Moscow on June 12, 2018/VCG Photo

Russia's midfielder Yuri Zhirkov and Russia's midfielder Alexander Golovin attend a training session in Novogorsk outside Moscow on June 12, 2018/VCG Photo

Since the fall of the USSR, the Russian national team have never qualified from the group stage of a World Cup. Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and midfielder Aleksandr Golovin are leading the hosts this year and hope to surprise local fans.
Saudi Arabia are the second lowest-ranked team in the tournament, and did not get out of the group stage in the last three times they competed at a World Cup - 1998, 2002 and 2006 - however, they have a chance to grab a victory later today when they face Russia, the lowest-ranked team, in the tournament's opening match.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool poses for a photo with his Premier League Golden Boot Award after the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield on May 13, 2018/VCG Photo

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool poses for a photo with his Premier League Golden Boot Award after the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield on May 13, 2018/VCG Photo

Egypt last played in Italia '90, and have never won World Cup match. There's no doubt that Egypt’s international star player Mohamed Salah absolutely wishes to lead the team to their first-ever World Cup victory.
Uruguay Luis Suarez plays with a ball during a national soccer team's training session ahead of the World Cup at the Sports Centre Borsky in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, June 11, 2018/VCG Photo

Uruguay Luis Suarez plays with a ball during a national soccer team's training session ahead of the World Cup at the Sports Centre Borsky in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, June 11, 2018/VCG Photo

However, Uruguay is the biggest favorite from Group A. The semi-finalists from the 2010 World Cup showcase star players such as Barcelona's Luis Suarez and PSG's Edinson Cavani, whose high-scoring talents are likely to lead the team into the next round.