Hosts exceed expectations in opener

That wasn’t too bad, was it? What were we worrying about?

The least appetising opening game in World Cup history exceeded all expectations. Well, Russia did.

Maybe the lowest ranked team in the tournament has been kidding everybody on with their woeful form over the last year or so.

On this evidence (albeit against the second lowest ranked team in the tournament) they looked pretty good.

Saudi Arabia were tactically abysmal but 5-0 wins don’t come along too often in World Cups, certainly not on day one when ‘don’t lose’ is usually the mantra.

Knife-edge contests can wait. Goals and excitement will do fine for the moment. And on that score Russia, with Aleksandr Golovin the class act, have certainly delivered.

There was even an early goal of the tournament contender.

It takes a lot to bring a smile to the Russian coach’s face – with the pressure he’s been under going into the competition, little wonder – but Denis Cheryshev’s outside of the boot curler did the trick.

We’re up and running. Robbie Williams has gone home and there’s Spain against Portugal to look forward to tonight. The Iberian derby. Ronaldo v Ramos. And, maybe even, Spain’s Barcelona contingent v Spain’s Real Madrid contingent.

One match down, 63 to go...