Russia vs Saudi Arabia World Cup 2018 as it happened: Latest score, goals and updates as hosts lead in Moscow
The hosts kick off the tournament and win 5-0 at the Luhzniki Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.After months of anticipation, World Cup 2018 finally gets underway on Thursday as hosts Russia take on Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Little is expected of Russia at the tournament, but their best chance of qualifying for the knockout stage involves beating a nation making their first World Cup appearance since 2006.
Saudi Arabia enter the competition led by their third coach in less than a year, and know only a positive result against Russia will give them hope of being competitive in a wide open Group A.
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What time is kick-off?
Russia vs Saudi Arabia kicks off at 4pm.
Where can I watch it?
The game will be broadcast live on ITV. Coverage begins with the opening ceremony at 2:30pm.
Odds:
Russia: 7/15
Saudi Arabia: 10/1
Draw: 37/10
Prediction:
Russia 1-0 Saudi Arabia: The hosts will get the positive start they so desperately want, but it won’t be easy.
KICK-OFF: If the first 19 seconds are anything to go by, Saudi Arabia will win this World Cup. The Green Falcons kick-off and immediately fly forward with some crisp one-touch passing. You heard it here first.
3 mins: Russia retaliate and win the game's first corner. Yury Zhirkov swings it out from the left, but his cross is convincingly cleared by Omar Hawsawi.
6 mins: It's frantic end-to-end stuff so far, both teams so excited to get going after the months of build-up. On the left, Saudi Arabia are impressing where Yasser Al Shahrani and Yahya Al Sahlawi are linking together well.
9 mins: The first WTF moment from Clive Tyldesley this tournament as he goes into the finer details of Stalin's moustache.
10 mins: Another Russia corner, another taken by Zhirkov. The former Chelsea man completely overhits his delivery and gives Saudi Arabia the opportunity to counter - ultimately to no avail.
12 mins: GOAL! RUSSIA 1 SAUDI ARABIA 0:
Russia take the lead at their own World Cup! It's a first international goal for Yuri Gazinskiy, who plants his header beyond Abdullah Al-Mayoof with great composure. It was third time lucky as Yury Zhirkov swung over a corner from the left, once again cleared out of the box. However, the hosts kept the ball alive and when Roman Zobnin sent in a curling delivery, there was the Krasnador man to score. There was a hint of a push on a defender as Gazinskiy met the cross enough, but not enough to warrant the Argentine referee Nestor Pitana to consult VAR.
14 mins: In the stands, Vladimir Putin looks a very happy man. Which is always a major concern for the rest of us.
20 mins: Russia are pushing for a second...and as I write that Yahya Al Sahlawi almost forces an equaliser.
22 mins: Two Saudi Arabia corners in quick succession threaten to get the Green Falcons back into the game. The second of those is cleared and Russia take the opportunity to attack at pace. Too much pace. Looking to tear away into space, Alan Dzagoev's sprint is cut short as the midfielder pulls up clutching his hamstring.
It's immediately clear that the CSKA man won't be able to continue and, most likely, has played his final part in this World Cup. He is replaced by Denis Cheryshev.
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