Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Saudi Arabia vs Egypt LIVE World Cup 2018: VAR penalty after Mohamed Salah goal - latest score, goals and updates plus prediction, how to watch online

Follow all the action from the final round of Group A matches

Sam Dymond
Monday 25 June 2018 16:25 BST
Comments
Egypt World Cup profile

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt are playing in a token World Cup match after both teams were consigned to an early exit after losing their opening two games.

Mohamed Salah responded to claims his World Cup was over on Twitter, writing: “Everyone in Egypt is together and there is absolutely no disagreement between us. We respect each other and the relationship is great.”

The Liverpool and Egypt sensation missed Egypt’s first game against Uruguay and looked a shadow of the player he was in the 2018-19 season against Russia.

Follow all live updates below...

Please allow a moment for the blog to load...

What time is it?

Saudi Arabia vs Egypt kicks off at 15:00 at the Vologorad Arena.

Where can I watch it?

ITV will be showing live coverage on ITV 4 and online on the ITV hub.

Odds

Saudi Arabia: 5/6

Egypt: 15/4

Draw: 13/5

Prediction

0-0. There’s very little to play for and even less quality on show. Even if Egypt start with Salah, who has shown he is clearly unfit, they lack the creativity to break down defences, including teams a poor as Saudi Arabia.

The teams are out, both in Samara and Volgograd. We'll have all the action from both Group A fixtures for you as it happens.

Sam Dymond25 June 2018 14:54

Uruguay and Russia are the two best teams in Group. Uruguay and Russia may well have the two best national anthems at this World Cup. I'm yet to hear better.

Sam Dymond25 June 2018 14:57

KICK-OFF: The referees in Samara and Volgograd wait for the signal, and once it arrives both games in Group A begin at the same time. Unfortunately, ITV don't quite commit to the same standards and their live ITV4 stream of the match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt begins a good two minutes after Uruguay and Russia get going on the main channel.

Sam Dymond25 June 2018 15:02

3 mins: Uruguay 0 Russia 0: Both teams may have sealed their progress already but there is no let up in the early stages at the Samara Arena. The shots are raining in and the tackles are flying about. After Matias Vecino let fly with a 30 yard thunderbolt that had Igor Akinfeev scampering across his goal to see wide, Edinson Cavani was laid out with a fierce challenge from Igor Smolnikov. The intensity of the game is matched by the noise from the stands, and Senegalese referee Malang Diedhiou just has a word with some of the players to suggest they calm things down.

Sam Dymond25 June 2018 15:06

8 mins: Uruguay 0 Russia 0: A mistake by Nahitan Nandez in midfield allows Russia to threaten an attack for the first time, and...the noise, my word, the noise. The roar from the crowd demands better from Denis Cheryshev, who runs possession straight into the covering Sebastian Coates.

Sam Dymond25 June 2018 15:09

10 mins: GOAL! URUGUAY 1 RUSSIA 0:

Uruguay lead the hosts in Samara! Luis Suarez showed pace and trickery to race down the left, only for his cross to Edinson Cavani in the middle to be cut out. Rodrigo Bentancur picked up possession outside the Russian box but, before he could get his shot away, he was taken out by the sliding tackle of Yury Gazinsky. The Krasnador man was booked for his involvement, but worse was to come for the host nation. Utilising a gap in the wall created by Sergei Ignashevich being dragged out of position, Suarez fired a right-footed effort low into the bottom corner of Igor Akinfeev's net. As it stands, Uruguay top Group A with maximum points.

Sam Dymond25 June 2018 15:10

13 mins: Uruguay 1 Russia 0: The Russians hit straight back at Uruguay after falling behind with Artem Dzyuba nodding down for Cheryshev to shoot. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera managed to block with his body, but still needed the help of his defender, Diego Godín, to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Sam Dymond25 June 2018 15:16

20 mins: Uruguay 1 Russia 0: It takes a lot to force a coach to hobble to the edge of his technical area on one crutch, but Fyodor Kudryashov's late challenge on Nandez has just done that.

Sam Dymond25 June 2018 15:22

22 mins: GOAL! SAUDI ARABIA 0 EGYPT 1:

Mohamed Salah has another World Cup goal, and Egypt lead in Volgograd! Abdallah El Said's long ball through the middle had the Liverpool forward on red alert, and he escaped between two Saudi Arabia defenders before nonchalantly lobbing over goalkeeper Yasser Al-Mosailem.

Sam Dymond25 June 2018 15:23

23 mins: GOAL! URUGUAY 2 RUSSIA 0:

A second for Uruguay! There's a touch of good fortune about it as an outswinging corner from the right evades everyone to land at the feet of Diego Laxalt 20 yards from goal. The Genoa midfielder lined up a strike that was heading for the far corner before clattering into both Denis Cheryshev and Ilya Kutepov to find its way in at the near post. Laxalt will claim it for now but it may ultimately go down in the record books as an own-goal.

Sam Dymond25 June 2018 15:24

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in