Dream start
RUSSIA: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Zobnin, Gazinsky, Golovin, Samedov (Kuzyaev 64), Smolov (Dzyuba 70), Dzagoev (Cheryshev 24). Subs not used: Lunev, Semenov, Kudryashov, Granat, Aleksey Miranchuk, Anton Miranchuk, Erokhin, Smolnikov, Gabulov. SAUDI ARABIA: Al-Muaiouf, Al-Breik, Osama Hawsawi, Omar Hawsawi, Al-Shahrani, Al-Jassam, Otayf (Al-Muwallad 64), Al-Dawsari, Al-Shehri (Bahbir 74), Al-Faraj, Al-Sahlawi (Asiri 84).
Subs not used: Al-Mosailem, Al-Harbi, Al Bulaihi, Al-Khaibri, Kanno, Al-Khaibari, Al-Moqahwi, Motaz Hawsawi, Al-Owais. Man of the Match: Aleksandr Golovin (Russia)
Match Rating: 7/10
Referee: Pitana Nestor (Argentina) HOSTS Russia opened their World Cup campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of a woeful Saudi Arabia, a result that will delight a nation desperate to enjoy their moment on football’s biggest stage.
According to Fifa’s rankings there was little between these teams as they kicked off, which suggested it would be a competitive game.
Sadly, the rankings also suggested it would not be high on quality, as Russia came into the tournament as the lowest-ranked hosts in history, at 70th.
The Saudis were a whole three places higher, but not for much longer on this evidence.
Russian president Vladimir Putin told us during the opening ceremony that Russians love football, and there was no denying the passion of the crowd at the Luzhniki Stadium.
The opening goal came after just 12 minutes and it told the story of the whole game.
A Russian corner failed to beat the Saudi defender at the near post but was cleared straight back to the corner-taker, former Chelsea player Yury Zhirkov. He passed to Roman Zobnin, who swung in a decent cross from the left only for the Saudis to make it look like a precision dart. Yury Gazinsky was given a free header — he accepted it with pleasure.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was picked up on camera appealing to Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Putin for a foul. The Russian chief smiled and shook his hand.
On 43 minutes the Green Eagles were plucked. Osama Hawsawi failed to deal with a pass aimed in Fedor Smolov’s direction and Aleksandr Golovin beat his man in a race to the loose ball.
The most creative player on the park, Golovin rolled the ball to Zobnin, but he dawdled and played a poor pass to Denis Cheryshev, who had been completely free on goal.
Luckily, Cheryshev did his team-mate a favour by lifting the ball over one challenge, stepping inside another and drilling the ball past Abdullah.
The second half took a long time to come to life.
The third goal was another meaty header from a deep cross,