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.
66 mins: Russia 2-0 Saudi Arabia: Twenty minutes into this second half, and it has been flat to say the least. The hosts appear prepared to sit on their lead while Saudi Arabia look unable to find a way in which to trouble the Russian defence.
71 mins: GOAL! RUSSIA 3 SAUDI ARABIA 0:
Artem Dzyuba comes on as Russia's third and final substitute, and scores with his first touch! The forward had been on for Fedor Smolov for little over a minute when he escaped from his marker in the box, to plant Aleksandr Golovin's right-wing cross back beyond Abdullah Al-Mayoof and into the bottom corner. A textbook header and a comfortable three points for the hosts on the opening day.
81 mins: Russia 3 Saudi Arabia 0: Into the last ten minutes, and the hosts of the 2018 World Cup have got themselves a solid base to build their Group A campaign. Waiting to face Russia are Mohamed Salah's Egypt and Luis Suarez's Uruguay.
88 mins: The best player on the pitch - Aleksandr Golovin - has just received the first yellow card of the tournament. The CSKA Moscow midfielder has provided two goals on a plate for teammates but has now been cautioned for two fouls in quick succession.
90 mins: The board goes up for three added minutes. It neatly matches the three goals and three points Russia have claimed in the tournament's first game.
90+1 mins: GOAL! RUSSIA 4 SAUDI ARABIA 0:
Scrap that, it's four goals! And Denis Cheryshev has his second! It's another fantastic goal from the substitute, who takes charge of a dropping ball just inside the Saudi Arabia area and flicks a nonchalant effort with the outside of his right boot into the far corner of Abdullah Al-Mayoof's net. It's the delicious icing on a somewhat disappointing cake.
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