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SCORELINE: Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia
SCORERS: Russia - Gazinsky 12', Cheryshev 43' 91', Dzyuba 71', Golovin 94'
Russia vs Saudi Arabia isn't exactly a fixture that is likely to get the world all hot and bothered. How then, could the world not stop thinking, talking, and tweeting about it?
World Cup 2018: the most glorified event in, arguably, the history of the World.
And we finally had lift-off! The seats were filled, the songs were sung and the celebrities were present. Finally, we could get over all the hype surrounding the event and get down to business; get down to the football.
The hosts, Russia, took on Saudi Arabia - who themselves returned to the competition after missing out on the last two editions. Russia were favourites going into the game against the visitors, and that's how it proved to be in the end, as the greater experience and professionalism got the hosts the perfect start to the campaign.
An eventful game means that we have a lot to talk about. So let's jump right in!
#5 Vladimir Putin addresses the world
Vladimir Putin loves nothing more than the world's gaze upon him as he takes a victory lap. The opening ceremony provided the perfect opportunity for just that.
The Russian president addressed the world, welcomed them to his home, and invited them to learn about the Russian way of life and it's culture. A lot of criticism is hurled at the man, on a daily basis, by media houses around the globe, but they all had to turn up to light up the stadium as their shutterbugs went off. The alternative was missing out on the World Cup, and that is not even remotely an option.
Putin tried to take a curtain call when Russia hosted the Winter Olympics in 2014, but the Western influence on the global narrative meant that the world focused on the atrocities in Ukraine and the doping scandal plaguing the Russian sporting federation rather than the impressive feat, in his eyes, of hosting the Olympics.
In 2018 though, the world is in Russia because the World Cup is in Russia, and this time around there is simply no ignoring the work put in by the country under its commanding leader.
#4 "The first goal of World Cup 2018 Russia, is a Russian Goal!"
The first goal of the FIFA World Cup in Russia was, fittingly, a Russian goal. They were the first to go into space all those years ago and it felt like they'd accomplished something which rivals that fear when Yuri (the irony!) Gazinsky put the hosts ahead through a towering header in the 12th minute of the game.
Russia have been vilified back home for their recent performances and the lack of challenge on the Russian front in the world of football. The fact that they managed to get the first goal in the tournament, and more importantly on the night, meant that the pressure to deliver was off them and they could enjoy their football. That they evidently did through the remainder of the game.
They went on to press home the advantage of the first goal and, as a result, blew past Saudi Arabia in the opening fixture of the biggest sporting event on the planet.
#3 Saudi Arabia stood tall in the middle; wilted on either end
The minnows were more than comfortable on the ball, as long as it was in the centre of the park. They moved the ball around well enough - with good touches and close control, often forming triangle across the pitch to ensure superiority in numbers.
All this meant that they enjoyed a lot of the ball. In fact, they ended up with 62% of possession against the hosts. How often have you seen that happen; one side keep the ball for around three-fifths of the game and the other side scores five goals?
The defending at the back was uncertain and timid. They ended up conceding a goal in almost every possible way they could: crosses from either flank into the box culminating in headers, on the counter for Cheryshev's first, the liberty for the same player to take a shot on from the edge of the box while three men in green chose to look on, and then from a dead-ball situation.
The attacking side of things was just as disappointing as the Saudis failed to find the quality needed for the telling ball, or the firepower upfront, to trouble the scorers. In a match that is going to be as fiercely contested as this edition of the World Cup, you cannot expect to get away with such glaring problems in the setup - as it so fatefully proved in the end.
#2 Denis Cheryshev with two touches of utter brilliance
The Real Madrid reject, who currently plies his trade for Villareal in Spain, had the game of his life. And signs were there for all to see right from the off.
The willingness of the left-winger to bomb up and down the left-hand side is well documented, but it was the deftness of his touch which, rather uncharacteristically, got him the opening for his first as he delicately lifted the ball over two sliding defenders before leathering it into the roof of the net.
If that was unexpected, the second one was even more out of the realm of reality; as the ball sat up for him on the edge of the box and he just curled the ball, with the outside of his boot, past the despairing dive of the keeper in goal. Two smashing finishes mean he is on top of the goal-scoring leaderboard. And considering what he produced on the night on the night that might not be for just the first round of matches.
#1 In the context of Group A
Russia made the most commanding statement possible in their opening fixture of the World Cup. The added pressure of having to play in front of their own crowd could've proved to be a little too much to deal with, as has been evident from the grim coverage surrounding the home team in the Russian media.
On the night though, they did turn up. Russia totally dismantled the visitors in both halves of the game. A late flourish, in the end, meant that Russia ended with a tally of goals that was, honestly speaking, a little flattering. They more than deserved the win, but five goals without reply wasn't exactly a fair reflection of the game.
However, a start as dominant as this means that the hosts have more than cleared the first obstacle to their progress to the next round. Next up, they've got to overcome their biggest obstacle to that knockout round berth: Mo Salah's Egypt, and hope they don't get thrashed at the hands of Uruguay.
Things are looking up for the home country!
How far do you think Russia will go in this World Cup? Tell us in the comments below!
