Egypt manager Hector Cuper has, despite criticism, insisted that he will not change his defensive tactics in Friday's opener against Uruguay in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. "We qualified by playing this way so it will be hard to change it," Cuper stated in the pre-match press conference on Thursday. Under Cuper, Egypt has made it to the most prestigious football tournament after 28 years of absence. However, the team has not scored many goals due his defensive strategies and a lack of strikers in his squad. "We are ready for the game. All 23 players who came here [to Russia] – and those who stayed in Egypt – are very prepared to play in the World Cup," the 62-year-old Argentinean coach added. The Pharaohs failed to win any of their five World Cup preparation friendly games, losing to Portugal, Greece and Belgium, and reaching a draw with Kuwait and Colombia. Uruguay are the toughest opponents for the North African team, and they fancy their chances of advancing from Group A, which also includes Russia and Saudi Arabia. "Uruguay is a powerful team as a whole, not only Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, but the duo will definitely be tightly marked," he added. Cuper has confirmed that his side's star Mohamed Salah is fit and ready to play after recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained in Keiv.
