The Best Bet: Egypt to steal narrow win in final game of 2018 World Cup

The final game of group matches at any World Cup can serve up high drama but also dead rubber contests. Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia’s meeting with Egypt is the latter. Both have been eliminated and neither have anything to play for other than pride.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia have lost their opening two matches and the latter haven’t even scored. Egypt, led by Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, were tipped to join Uruguay in qualifying from Group A before the tournament started but have underwhelmed.

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It would compile more misery on what has already been a poor World Cup campaign if Saudi Arabia secure a positive result against the Pharaohs. Saudi Arabia have failed to win their last 12 matches at the World Cup, a run that stretches back to the 1994 edition, and haven’t even scored in their last four.

Mohamed Salah, 25, is reportedly considering international retirement after the 2018 World Cup and the Egyptian star will be keen to at least end it on a winning note. Egypt haven’t performed well at this World Cup but should have enough to overcome Saudi Arabia.

Given the form shown by either side, few goals are anticipated at the Volgograd Stadium. The WhoScored Expert expects a narrow win for Egypt, with Bet365 offering odds of 6.5 for Egypt, who have only scored more than once in two of their last 24 internationals, to beat Saudi Arabia 1-0.