Egypt 0 Uruguay 1: Jose Gimenez nets dramatic winner for Oscar Tabarez’s side in World Cup opener

JOSE GIMENEZ netted a dramatic 90th minute winner for Uruguay as they beat Egypt 1-0 in their World Cup opener.

The Atletico Madrid centre-back got on the end of a Carlos Sanchez delivery to head home in the closing stages.

Edinson Cavani struck the post late on with a free-kick, as the African nation failed to hold on for the point.

Oscar Tabarez's side disappointed in the Group A clash, as they failed to live up to the hype surrounding them.

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez was toothless on his World Cup return.

The former Liverpool ace played his first competitive game since copping a nine-match ban for taking a bite out of Italy's Giorgio Chiellini in Brazil four years ago.

And the controversial forward's appeitite for goals seems to have faded in the meantime along with his hunger for human flesh.

He missed three chances to score a crucial goal and get Uruguay off to a flier in Russia and should stick to cannibalism.

The worst of his flunks came with 18 minutes to go when he was put clean through by team-mate Edinson Cavani only to fumble with the ball at his feet and allow himself to be easily dispossessed by Egypt keeper Mo Elshenawy.

Suarez did manage one shot on target but saw his 46th minute snap shot from inside the six yard box easily parried by the keeper.

No.1 DESTINATION For our World Cup exclusives, gossip, action, video and fun

The frustrated star booted a pitch-side advertising board in response as he wasted so many opportunities to get himself back in the good books of understanding boss Hector Cuper.

Suarez also fluffed a good opportunity in the first half when he was clean through in the 24th minute when the African minnows failed to clear the danger from a corner.

The ball fell to him again from close range but he turned and blasted his shot into the side netting.

While Cavani almost broke the deadlock twice in the last ten minutes - first being expertly denied by the goalkeeper - before striking the woodwork from a set-piece.

Uruguay were tipped as favourites to win this group and coast into the knockout rounds, but now it looks like a much tougher battle instead.

Arsenal's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny will have felt right at home surrounded by thousands of empty seats at the 35,000 capacity Central Stadium as it looked much like the Emirates Stadium did towards the end of last season.

Liverpool's Mo Salah remained on the bench despite boss Cuper's claim that one of the biggest stars of the tournament was fully recovered from a dislocated shoulder suffered in the Champions League final last month.

It was Egypt's first game at the World Cup finals for 28 years but on this evidence it looks much like they will be heading home at the first stage.

It could be a 'pharoah' time before they return too.