COSTA RICA’S MATARRITA OUT OF WORLD CUP

: Costa Rica defender Ronald Matarrita will not play in the World Cup because of a right hamstring injury. The Costa Rican federation says Matarrita will be replaced on the Ticos’ roster by Kenner Gutierrez.

Following training at the team’s St Petersburg camp, the left back had an MRI which confirmed the injury. Matarrita, who plays for the MLS club NYCFC, will miss at least two weeks. Costa Rica are preparing to play Serbia in their World Cup opener on Sunday in Samara.

The Ticos are hoping to improve on their finish at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when they advanced to the quarter-finals. Matarrita was one of six players from Major League Soccer on Costa Rica’s roster. Gutierrez plays for Alajuelense in Costa Rica’s top division.

It was supposed to be Mohamed Salah’s grand World Cup entry as his Egypt side took on Uruguay in their campaignopener at the Ekaterinburg Arena, nearly 1800 km from here on Friday.

Instead, Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez stole the show with a late header to seal a 1-0 win for the two-time world champions that will leave Egypt ruing a rare blip really late in the game.

In a game of few chances, both the teams began cautiously. Salah, who coach Hector Cuper had indicated would play the game, remained on the bench throughout.

When the cameras zoomed into Salah on Egypt’s bench and it appeared on the giant screen at the stadium, his fans roared wildly from the stands. Salah responded with a smile.

Egypt, compact at the back, had little trouble in snuffing out the Uruguayan attack as supporters of the South American nation were hushed into silence in the opening minutes.

When Luis Suarez hit the sidenetting with his shot in the 25th minute, Uruguayan fans started celebrations in the stands, only to realise a moment later that the ball hadn’t gone in.

The frustration on Oscar Tabarez’s face was apparent as he became more and more animated on the touchline as the minutes passed.

The supply line to Uruguay’s attack was cut off by Egypt’s tight, narrow formation and every time Rodrigo Bentancur got the ball, he was immediately closed down.

At one point, just a few minutes before half time, Edinson Cavani

SAMARA MOSCOW: