What to expect days 1, 2, 3

Eight matches will be played on the opening three days of World Cup 2018 and here’s our soccer expert’s guide to the early battles of the tournament

The opening week of the World Cup is rarely a window on what will eventually transpire, but is eagerly anticipated so let’s take a look at the games from Thursday through Saturday. THURSDAY 14 JUNE RUSSIA v SAUDI ARABIA (5pm, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow): There will be incredible pressure on the host nation to win, but it must be the easiest match any host nation has ever had with Saudi Arabia hardly likely to create an upset. FRIDAY 15 JUNE EGYPT v URUGUAY (2pm, Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg): There will be more attention on Mohamed Salah and whether he makes it back from his shoulder injury than anything else. And quite rightly so, for without him Egypt will struggle. MOROCCO v IRAN (5pm, Krestovsky Stasium, St Petersburg): Morocco are the best of the five African sides at World Cup but if they are to get through a horror Group B they must win this game. Former Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Queiroz takes Iran to a second successive tournament. PORTUGAL v SPAIN (8pm, Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sotchi): Between them these neighbours have won the last three European Championships, plus Spain were World Cup winners in 2010. It pits Cristiano Ronaldo against several of his Real Madrid teammates. SATURDAY 16 JUNE FRANCE v AUSTRALIA (12pm, Kazan Arena, Kazan): You could make a competitive team from those France left out of their squad, never mind the 23 going to Russia. Australia changed their coach in November after qualifying and still have 38-yearold Tim Cahill in their squad. ARGENTINA v ICELAND (3pm, Otkrytie Stadium, Moscow): Lionel Messi begins what must be his last quest for a first-ever title at national level to add to his considerable legacy at Barcelona. Iceland are the smallest country, with a population of some 340 000, to play at the World Cup finals as they make their debut. PERU v DENMARK (6pm, Mordovia Arena, Saransk): Peru are back at the World Cup for the first time since the 1982 finals and have looked sharp in the warm-ups, suggesting they could be a little bit of a rabble rouser at the tournament. Denmark are lot more attacking than before and have discarded their traditional possession game. CROATIA v NIGERIA (9pm, Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad): Everything in the Croatia team revolves around Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, who is key to their hopes. Nigeria’s new World Cup kit has caused a massive stir but not much is expected from the team.