Uruguay have no injury concerns but could make changes to the side that beat Egypt 1-0.
Winger Carlos Sanchez is tipped to start on the right, while the experienced Cristian Rodriguez could get the nod on the left wing after Giorgian De Arrascaeta failed to impress.
Saudi Arabia head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi could drop a number of players, with goalkeeper Abdullah Al Mayouf likely to replace Mohammed Al Owais.
It may seem odd to talk about a potential managerial sacking just one game into a major tournament, but Saudi Arabia head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi may need a result in this match to keep his job. Pizzi described a “feeling of shame” after his side were thumped 5-0 by Russia on the opening day, and another inept performance here could see him removed from his position on Thursday morning.
Uruguay have no such managerial issues, with the 71-year-old Oscar Tabarez in his 12th year and second spell as boss. This game will be his 17th World Cup match and the wise old coach won’t have been that impressed with how his side played in their opening game, with La Celeste needing a late header from centre-back Jose Gimenez to snatch the points.
Uruguay will kick off knowing that a win will send them through to the knockout stage at a third consecutive World Cup. The South American side have never failed to get out of the group stage under Tabarez and it looks safe to assume that he’ll repeat that feat here. Defeat for Saudi Arabia would confirm their elimination.
Head-to-head
Uruguay
Saudi Arabia
Yesterday we had no match threads.
Today we get two for each game.
Not sure that’s the right way to go but I’ll play along with it.
If you think I’m typing all this again…
In their spat with Qatar, Saudi have decided to build a canal to turn the renegade into an Island, and to use the canal to store their nuclear waste.
This is about the only tactic they could use in this game, but expect FIFA may have a rule about canals in the middle of the pitch.
But then it’s FIFA so normally a brown envelope would work except a Saudi tv channel has been broadcasting all games free and FIFA are on the warpath.
3-0 to me Suarez may touch the ball this time.
Nicholas McGeehan@NcGeehan
Just been writing a piece about the pettiness and childish vindictiveness that characterises #Saudi #UAE quarrels with #Qatar, and the complete lack of concern for the fall-out. Looks like it might need an update.
İyad el-Baghdadi | إياد البغدادي
@iyad_elbaghdadi
Qatar is a peninsula that borders only one country: Saudi Arabia. Now, due to a bitter political feud, Saudi Arabia plans to build a canal across its border with Qatar, effectively turning it into an island. Is this kinda thing legal under international law?
5:23 PM - Jun 19, 2018
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Won’t beat about the bush. The Saudi’s were massively embarrassed by their first game. The howls of laughter drifting over the Canal near Qatar could have been heard in Jeddah.
Could be that an engine fire on their aircraft would be the best thing that happens to them should they fail so lamentably tonight.
Oscar Tabarez shuffles his Uruguay pack a little, with two changes from that late, late win over Egypt.
Both come in midfield as Nahitan Nandez and Giorgian De Arrascaeta drop to the bench. Carlos Sanchez - who plays his football in Mexico - and Cristian Rodriguez - who plays for Penarol in Uruguay - are in.
Remember a Uruguay win sees them into the knockout stages for a third World Cup in a row.
Uruguay: Muslera, Varela, Gimenez, Godin, Caceres, Sanchez, Vecino, Bentancur, Rodriguez, Suarez, Cavani.
Saudi Arabia’s four changes point to coach Juan Antonio Pizzi being not best pleased with a 5-0 opening-night hammering against Russia.
Goalkeeper Abdullah Almuaiouf is one of the men left out, meaning Mohammed Al Owais comes in. Elsewhere, Ali Albulayhi comes into a back four, while Hatan Bahbri moves into midfield and Fahad Almuwallad is in to lead the attack.
Pizzi has talked of a “feeling of shame” in the wake of their Russian nightmare. Expect his side to come out fighting.
Saudi Arabia: Al-Owais, Al-Breik, Osama Hawsawi, Al Bulaihi, Al-Shahrani, Bahbir, Al-Faraj, Otayf, Al-Jassam, Al Dawsari, Al-Muwallad.
3-0 stroll in the park for los amigos
We is going to get ripped a new one…
Wtf Saudi had a shot!
Saudi Arabia could grab the coveted prize of the worst ever group stage record. They’ve made a decent start, and if Chompy hits a bit of form they could all take a big step towards cementing their place today. Remember kids, the worst ever performance was Zaire in 1974, with no points and a goal difference of -14 from their group matches. So it’s quite an ask for the Saudis, but I think they can do it.
You’re going down, you’re going down, URU going down…
The first corner of the game is Egypts…
Oh dear
Hey bully, leave my boys alone…
Clearly starting with 2 DM’s against Saudi has limited the creativity of Uruguay in a fashion not seen since Puel managed Saints
Lots of arm waving and should be normal service shortly
TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
WHAT A GOAL WHAT A FINISH!
Well, no, another Saudi on his way to Yemen the debutant keeper
Mwah mwah mwah
Tyripsies boys miss an open goal
Uruguay have not conceded a goal in 2018
That has to be a commentators curse if ever I heard one
I is sad
What position does he play?
Is he related to the Al Isiads’ of Tabruk?
