Russia kickoff on a wing and a prayer
BURDEN OF EXPECTATIONS Ranked lowest among 32 teams, ageing hosts need to beat Saudi Arabia to keep qualification hopes alive
HOPING TO PROGRESS
Despite failing to win in seven matches stretching back to October, 2017, the hosts still have realistic hopes of making it to the second round for the first time in more than 30 years.
Coach Stanislav Cherchesov has been working overtime trying to rebuild his team, particularly defensively but the tournament has arrived without him showing much evidence of progress. Russia has spent more than $13 billion on preparations for the big event, and President Vladimir Putin called on the team to pull themselves together as they look to progress from a section also featuring Uruguay and Egypt. "As far as the team are
INJURY BLOWS
Zenit St Petersburg striker Alexander Kokorin had to pull out due to a serious knee injury in March. Also absent will be defenders Georgi Dzhikiya and Viktor Vasin.
Krasnodar forward Fedor Smolov and Artem Dzyuba, loaned out to Arsenal Tula in January after falling out with ex-Zenit coach Roberto Mancini, will spearhead the attack.
WORLD CUP RECORD 17
Won Drawn Matches
RUSSIA
Lost
Best finish: Made it to QF in 1958, 1962, 1970 Uruguay, Russia will have to beat Saudi Arabia, the weakest team on paper in the group, to have a fair shot of reaching the last-16. Alan Dzagoev and Denis Cheryshev will be the two major creators for the team and Cherchesov
BELOW-PAR BUILD UP
Cherchesov's side will walk out at the Luzhniki stadium, the historic crucible of Russian sport, ranked a lowly 70th in the world, three spots below Group A rivals Saudi Arabia.
A 1-1 draw in Moscow with Turkey last week made Cherchesov the first Russian or Soviet manager to go winless in seven consecutive games, four of those ending in defeat. concerned, I must acknowledge the fact that, unfortunately, our team have not achieved big results in recent times," Putin said. "But we very much expect the team to play with dignity, for them to show modern, interesting football, and to fight until the end."
FACTFILE
Hosts Russia enter the Cup as the lowest-ranked of the 32 teams participating in the tournament as they sit 70th in the FIFA rankings while Saudi Arabia are three spots above in 67th.
Saudi Arabia won two warm-up matches before losing three in a row, the last being a 2-1 defeat by World Cup holders Germany.
2
Drawn Won Lost
Matches Best finish: Reached second round in 1994
SAUDI ARABIA
will be looking to offer the duo a bit more freedom going forward. With Alexander Kokorin missing out due to injury, forward Fyodor Smolov will carry the onus of scoring goals for his side.
Saudi Arabia head into the tournament with very little expectations, something they hope will work to their advantage. Coach Juan Antonio Pizzi had led Chile to the 2016 Copa America title with a gung-ho approach that has been characteristic of his managerial career.
Pizzi will find it difficult to replicate such a system but given Russia’s usually conservative approach, this is likely to be the only game where the Saudis will see a bit more of the ball. Russia and Saudi’s only previous encounter was a friendly in October 1993 which the Saudis won 4-2 at home. Saudi will become the first Asian team to play the opening game in World Cup history. Russia have not won a game since beating Korea Republic 4-2 in October 2017. Russia win
Draw
Saudi Arabia win
Source: ladbrokes.com