World Cup 2018: Egypt toothless without Mohamed Salah, Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani misfires and fans stay away

Five things we learned from the second game of Group A, which saw Jose Gimenez score a goal at the death as Uruguay beat Egypt 1-0

Uruguay scored a late, late winner against Egypt to begin their 2018 World Cup campaign with a win.

Defender Jose Gimenez headed powerfully home in the 90^th minute as Uruguay moved into second in Group A on goal difference, behind host nation Russia.

The pre-match headlines were dominated by Mohamed Salah, who was left on the bench by Héctor Cúper and failed to make an appearance.

Egypt nevertheless thought they had won a point without him until Gimenez’s late, late goal. Here are five things we learned from the match.

Surprise, surprise - Egypt struggle without Salah

Salah watches on (Getty)

Egypt are a disciplined, well-organised team who will have high hopes of making it to the knockout stages even despite Uruguay's late goal – but as expected, they struggled without Mohamed Salah.

For the best part of ninety minutes they were fine at the back, as their defence effectively marshalled Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, but they failed to create too many opportunities going forward and did not look as dangerous as usual on the counter-attack.

To hold Uruguay at arm's length even without their star player demonstrated a strength in depth that they had possibly not been credited with ahead of the tournament. However they now have to win their next game and - if this performance is anything to go by - to do that they will need Salah back fit and firing.

For more on how they managed the Mohamed void – check out Liam Twomey’s article here.

Cavani struggles on the big stage – again

Cavani did not make a significant impression (AFP/Getty Images)

The suspicion that Edinson Cavani – who has scored a grand total of 324 goals in 531 professional club matches, at the very impressive rate of almost a goal every other game – is something of a flat-track bully rumbles on.

Cavani is meant to be the focal part of this side but, in fact, he had the fewest touches (17) of any Uruguay player in the first-half, with absolutely none of those coming in the opposition’s box (cheers, Opta). He did manage a couple of early shots, but only one was on target and Mohamed El-Shenawy could have saved it with his eyes closed.

Perhaps it’s a moot point – because even on a bad day Cavani and co will probably bang in a goal every ten minutes against Saudi Arabia’s scattergun defence – but the 31-year-old will need to make a marked improvement if Uruguay are to improve on their run to the knockout stages four years ago.

The Ekaterinburg Arena probably didn’t need that extra stand after all

There were plenty of empty seats on display (Getty)

Ahead of the 2018 World Cup a gloriously out-of-place temporary stand was built just outside the Ekaterinburg Arena, in order to boost capacity from 23,000 to the Fifa-required 35-000 capacity.

The good men and women of Ekaterinburg needn’t have bothered – not for this game at least. There were plenty of empty seats on display throughout this bore draw, with vast swathes of empty orange seats visible right the way around the stadium.

Fortunately for Fifa then Peru are the next nation in town, with fans from the South American nation having travelled en masse for their first World Cup appearance in 36 years since Spain 1982. They take on France, next Thursday.

Trézéguet will get his big move soon enough

Trezeguet takes a shot on goal for Egypt (Getty)

The 23-year-old winger, who plays in the Turkish Süper Lig for Kasımpaşa, is being scouted by several English clubs, no doubt intrigued by his enticingly low €5m release clause. Or one-sixth of a Moussa Sissoko in the current market.

Against Uruguay he produced a lively and charismatic display, one that highlighted the winger's desire to take the fight to his opponents. Unafraid to challenge his opposite man out on the left flank, Trezeguet repeatedly tried his luck in an attempt to exploit the space behind. He enjoyed varying degrees of success but it was telling that the majority of Egypt's forward play was channelled down that left flank.

And if you think that’s an unusually detailed paragraph in this bite-sized B-side of an article it’s because I didn’t write it. It’s actually taken from Samuel Lovett’s very interesting and in-depth scout report of the player – which you can read here. Do it!

And poor old Pearce still has trouble recognising goals

Suarez, having failed to hit the back of the net (Getty)

“ONE-NIL URUGUAY!” Jonathan Pearce roared as Luis Suárez scuffed the ball into the side-netting midway through the first-half.

It appears he hasn’t learnt much from Raheem Sterling’s infamous ‘ghost goal’ against Italy in Manaus four years ago. Stick to Sergeant Bash and chums, mate.