1. THE GOALS

Egypt 0 Uruguay 1 (Jose Gimenez 89th)

2. THE WOW MOMENT

It would have been any time the camera panned to substitute Mohamed Salah, with precious few clear-cut chances in the game until defender Jose Gimenez's header just before added time broke Egypt's hearts. Moments earlier, a matter of inches denied Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani a goal of the tournament contender when his long-range free kick rattled the post.

3. THE TALKING POINT

Salah was named on the bench and although Egypt coach Hector Cuper had declared in his pre-match interview that the forward was fit to play, he played no part in the Group A encounter. While Egypt gave it a real go, they now have to beat Russia to stand a chance at qualifying given that the hosts have a superior goal difference. Perhaps Cuper was conserving Salah for Egypt's remaining two games, but the Argentinian could have risked him.

4. THE STAR

It was one of those games in which both sets of defences came out on top. The backbone of Uruguay's backline consists Atletico Madrid pairing of captain Diego Godin and Gimenez and they are as watertight for their country as they are for their club. This is Godin's third World Cup and he showed every bit of his experience to ensure the group favourites secured their first victory in a Finals opener since 1970

5. WHAT THE RESULT MEANS

No African team has played as many World Cup games without a win than the Pharaohs and while there was plenty of huffing and puffing against Uruguay, Egypt failed to blow the opposition house down and lacked the cutting edge that only Salah could have provided.