GROUP STAG E F I X T U R E S
by injuries, with forward Alexander Kokorin and defenders Georgy Dzhikiya and Viktor Vasin missing the tournament due to knee problems.
“We’re realists,” said striker Artyom Dzyuba. “We’re not favourites to win the World Cup, but we want to get out of the group and we’re playing at home. We want to prove to everyone, and most of all to ourselves, that we can play football, so that the country can be proud of us.”
“We’re a football country, not just an ice hockey or basketball or volleyball country, but a football one too. And we’ll put every effort into getting out of the group, to start with, and we’ll only start fantasising after that.”
After the opening day match, the real first game that will put fans on the edges of their seats is the battle between Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and 2010 champions Spain on Friday. Of course, one of Africa’s five representatives Egypt, will file out against Uruguay while another team from the continent, Morocco takes on Iran.
Nigeria’s quest to progress to the knock out phase will be determined by the outcome of her opening game against star-studded Croatia on Saturday.
However, before the matches, the Russians have put up a 30-minute opening ceremony, which will feature Robbie Williams, Aida Garifullina and Brazil’s football legend, Ronaldo.
14 June 2018
Russia v Saudi Arabia 4pm
15 June 2018
Egypt v Uruguay 1pm Morocco v Iran 4pm Portugal v Spain 7pm
Sat June 16
France v Australia 11am Argentina v Iceland 2pm Peru v Denmark 5pm Croatia v Nigeria 8pm
Sun June 17
Costa Rica v Serbia 1pm Germany v Mexico 4pm Brazil v Switzerland 7pm
Mon June 18
Sweden v South Korea 1pm Belgium v Panama 4pm Tunisia v England 7pm
Tues June 19
Colombia v Japan 1pm Poland v Senegal 4pm Russia v Egypt 7pm
Wed June 20
Portugal v Morocco 1pm Uruguay v Saudi Arabia 4pm Iran v Spain 7pm
Thu June 21
Denmark v Australia 1pm France v Peru 4pm Argentina v Croatia 7pm
Fri June 22:
Brazil v Costa Rica 1pm Nigeria v Iceland 4pm Serbia v Switzerland 7pm
Sat June 23
Belgium v Tunisia 1pm South Korea v Mexico 4pm Germany v Sweden 7pm
Sun June 24
England v Panama 1pm Japan v Senegal 4pm Poland v Colombia 7pm
Mon June 25
Uruguay v Russia 3pm Saudi Arabia v Egypt 3pm Spain v Morocco 7pm Iran v Portugal 7pm
Tues June 26
Denmark v France 3pm Australia v Peru 3pm Nigeria v Argentina 7pm Iceland v Croatia 7pm
Wed June 27
S’Korea v Germany 3pm Mexico v Sweden 3pm Serbia v Brazil 7pm Switzerland v CostaRica 7pm
Thu June 28
Japan v Poland 3pm Senegal v Colombia 3pm England v Belgium 7pm Panama v Tunisia 7pm