Luis Suarez scored for Uruguay against Saudi Arabia (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Uruguay (2-0-0, 6 points) vs. Russia (2-0-0, 6 points)
Group A, Samara Arena, Samara
Don’t look so surprised.
No one may have expected much from Russia, with ESPN’s FiveThirtyEight giving it a 39 percent chance of winning the group, but there are compelling reasons it is atop Group A along with Uruguay. Clearly, home-field advantage really is that in the World Cup, with only one host nation failing to qualify for the knockout round. (We’re looking at you, South Africa in 2010.) It also helps that Russia drew the tournament’s easiest group and came roaring out of the gate, scoring five goals in its World Cup opener…
