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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Belgium captain Vincent Kompany has recovered enough from a groin strain to anchor the defense against Russia, which has made two changes for Sunday's World Cup Group H match at the Maracana stadium.
Kompany had been unable to train with his teammates for three days after hurting his groin late in Belgium's opening 2-1 victory over Algeria. Belgium coach Marc Wilmots also added Thomas Vermaelen and the two goalscorers from the first game, Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens, to the starting lineup.
Russia coach Fabio Capello stuck with goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who made a crucial blunder during the team's opening 1-1 draw against South Korea. But he brought in Alexi Kozlov and Maksim Kanunnikov.
Belgium: Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, Van Buyten, Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen, Axel Witsel, Marouane Fellaini, Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, , Romelu Lukaku.
Russia: Igor Akinfeev, Alexi Kozlov, Dmitry Kombarov, Vasily Berezutsky, Sergei Ignashevich, Denis Glushakov, Viktor Faizulin, Oleg Shatov, Alexander Samedov, Maksim Kanunnikov, Alexander Kokorin.
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