That happened fast – Tuesday heralds the start of the second round of games as a buoyant Russia march on to St Petersburg where they’ll face an Egypt side poise to throw in Mohamed Salah from the start.
The hosts could not have dreamed up a better script for their 5-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia on opening night while Egypt, at their first World Cup in 28 years, were sunk by a last-gasp Uruguay goal on Friday.
Below, we take a look at the key protagonists ahead of the crucial Group A clash.
ALEKSANDR GOLOVIN v MOHAMED SALAH
Denis Cheryshev delivered a spectacular two-goal performance off the bench against Saudi but while he was the gift that kept giving, Aleksandr Golovin was busy with the wrapping paper all game.
The 22-year-old, a reported transfer target for Chelsea and Arsenal, provided sumptuous assists – from the left and then right – for Yuri Gazinskiy and Artem Dzyuba, and sparked the attack that led to Cheryshev’s first. That free-kick at the end wasn’t bad, either.
Egypt’s defence should be a trifle sterner in St Petersburg but with the CSKA Moscow man in form, Russia possess a rare ingenuity in attack that emboldens the averages pieces around him.
Egypt supporters waited … and waited. But Salah never moved from the bench against Uruguay, no matter how many times the television director cut away to the pensive-looking Liverpool star.
Tears reached his eyes after Jose Gimenez’s late, late header but Hector Cuper did the right thing by keeping him on the bench – the next two games against Russia and Saudi are eminently winnable, and he has had another four days in which to recover from his shoulder injury.
Salah doesn’t have the pliable pieces in attack as he does around him for Liverpool, but his pace on the break with Yuri Zhirkov and Sergei Ignashevich – the duo’s combined age is 72 – down his side could be devastating.
YURI GAZINSKIY v MOHAMED ELNENY
Not one person on the planet had Yuri Gazinskiy down to score the first goal at the World Cup and his normal duties lie much further back on the pitch.
Alongside Roman Zobnin, who was similarly impressive against Saudi, a physical Gazinskiy has the opportunity to bully an Egypt midfield that was overrun at times by a dogged Uruguay.
There are few frills to Gazinskiy but he is an accurate enough passer – his job is to win the ball back and feed the likes of Golovin ahead of him.
Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny must come to the fore for Egypt on Tuesday, with midfield partner Amr Warda expected to play but carrying a knock due to the back bruise he suffered against Uruguay.
Elneny was certainly the most composed Egypt player on the ball in that heart-breaking defender as, time and time again, he watched players such as Trezeguet and Marwan Mohsen panic in possession ahead of him.
The onus will be on him to be the link man between defence and Salah this time around while holding his own against a powerful Russian midfield. He’ll run all day – but can he hold his ground when needed?
SERGEI IGNASHEVICH v AHMED HEGAZI
Sergei Ignashevich was whisked out of retirement as Russian defenders fell like dominoes in the build-up to the World Cup and it has been a glorious return indeed.
Facing an admittedly toothless Saudi attack, the 38-year-old alongside junior partner Ilya Kutepov restricted lone frontman Mohammed Al Sahlawi to just 17 touches before he was hauled off five minute before full-time.
Even if he were to shave a decade off his age, though, speed was never Ignashevich’s strength and while he should have little trouble shutting down an indecisive Egyptian attack based on the Uruguay match, he now has a certain Mr Salah to contend with.
At the other end, Ahmed Hegazi is the leader in this Egyptian defence and he blows hot and cold – as any West Brom fan will attest to.
He is a solid defender when Egypt sit back and often throws his body on the line. Isolate him though and the 27-year-old is prone to making rash decisions.
His distribution from the back leaves a lot to be desired, too. Against Uruguay his pass success rate was just a touch over 65 per cent – that’s a number that just invites pressure too often.
