Salah's absence won't change Uruguay's plans: Tabarez

Uruguay have not changed their preparations for the team's opening FIFA World Cup match against Egypt despite the likely absence of Mohamed Salah, the former champions' coach Oscar Tabarez said.

Salah has been given little chance of playing in the June 15 fixture in Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth largest city, as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

"Because of his characteristics, you need to take care about how you occupy spaces," Tabarez told reporters on Monday.

"But I think that changing all of our preparations for that reason (Salah's probable absence) is over the top. We don't even know for sure if he is going to play or not. If he plays, we will have to take precautions because of his very high level."

Salah was one of the most prolific forwards in Europe last season, scoring 44 goals and laying off 16 assists for Liverpool across all competitions.

Last October, the 25-year-old became a national hero by converting a 95th-minute penalty to send Egypt to the World Cup for the first time since 1990.

But his availability for the tournament was plunged into doubt when he was forced off during Real Madrid's 3-1 defeat of Liverpool in the Champions League final on May 26.

Egypt's national team medical staff subsequently said the forward's absence "would not exceed three weeks".

‘Use iniesta wisely’

Kolkata: For Spain to fire on all cylinders at this summer's FIFA World Cup in Russia, ageless midfield maestro Andres Iniesta will have to be used properly so that he can remain at the peak of his powers throughout the competition, feels Spanish football tactician Antonio Habas.

Iniesta, 34, is likely to retire from international football after Spain play at the World Cup in few days' time.

The legendary midfielder, who left FC Barcelona last month after spending 16 seasons with the Catalan club, told mediapersons in May that "if nothing strange happens, this World Cup will be my last participation with the Spanish national team."

Habas, who was once assistant to former Real Madrid and Liverpool head coach Rafael Benitez at Valencia in 2005, feels Spain head coach Julen Lopetegui should make sure Iniesta is not overworked during the course of the competition.

"He has played many games this year," Habas said over phone from his hometown in Madrid on Tuesday.

"Lopetegui should be careful in using him. He has to sufficiently rested so that his performance is balanced until the end of the championship," said Habas, who guided ATK to the semi-finals of Indian Super League (ISL) second season besides winning the competition in its inaugural season.

Iniesta will be expected to pull the strings for contenders Spain who also have the likes of veteran defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets, the gifted Saul Niguez, Koke, Thiago Alcantara and the industrious David Silva.