Egypt vs Saudi Arabia

Egypt vs Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia are 15/4 outsiders to win while Egypt are 17/20 to claim the three points – and their first ever win at a FIFA World Cup.

Egypt are 3/1 to win with both sides to score in the match.

Mohamed Salah is the bookies’ clear favourite to score the opening goal at 11/4. Marwan Mohsen of Saudi Arabia is 5/1 to open the scoring.

Saudi Arabia take on Egypt in their final Group A match at the Volgograd Arena on Monday.

Both sides have already been eliminated from the competition following consecutive defeats at the hands of Russia and Uruguay.

There have been a number of reports in the build-up to the match that Mohamed Salah has refused to play in Egypt’s final match.

Those claims have since been denied, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Pharoah’s star man will begin the game.

Adding to Saudi Arabia’s misery, Taisir Al-Jassim sustained a thigh injury against Uruguay.

Yahya Al-Shehri is the most likely contender to replace Al-Jassim.

After a solid cameo from the bench in their last match, Mohamed Kanno could be handed a start.

Mohammed Al-Owais was at fault for Suarez’s goal last time out, which could see Yasser Al-Mosailem start in goal.

Egypt team news vs Saudi Arabia

Despite the aforementioned doubts, Salah is still expected to start for Hector Cuper’s side.

Hector Cuper is unlikely to make wholesale changes for the Pharoah’s final match.

Kahraba could come in for Marwan Mohsen up front, while veteran goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary could replace Mohamed El-Shenawy between the sticks.

Should El-Hadary start, he will become the oldest player to ever play at a World Cup.

Salah missed Egypt’s opening match, a cruel 1-0 defeat to Uruguay, but started and scored in their second game against Russia.

Salah’s goal from the spot was merely a consolation as the North African side lost 3-1 to the hosts.

Following an incredible debut season with Liverpool, Salah’s participation at the World Cup had been hugely built up, and rightly so. The 26-year-old scored over 70 per cent of Egypt’s goals in qualifying.

After losing 5-0 in the opening match of the tournament, Saudi Arabia put in a much more respectable performance in their second game. Juan Pizzi’s side lost 1-0 to Uruguay, conceding a first-half Luis Suarez winner.

The Green Falcons will not want to leave Russia before at least finding the back of the net.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia have met six times in their footballing history, with Egypt winning four of the encounters.

Saudi Arabia’s only win over Egypt was a 5-1 victory at the 1999 Confederations Cup. The winning margin pales in comparison to Egypt’s 13-0 (!) win over Saudi Arabia in 1961.