[FT] 2018 FIFA World officially starts: Russia 5 vs Saudi Arabia 0

Russia

What a dramatic opening match for the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Saudi Arabia.

The hosts Russia put 5 goals past a hapless Saudi Arabian side.

Russia’s big striker Artem Dzyuba, who is 6ft 5in has scored the 3rd goal of the match, heading in Aleksandr Golovin’s right wing cross in the 71st minute.

Earlier, Denis Cheryshev doubled Russia’s lead in the 43rd minute after the 12th minute opener from Yury Gazinsky.

Russia is well on its way to an opening match victory against Saudi Arabia.

Both the hosts Russia and Asian Saudi Arabia need to win this game, knowing that there are tougher opponents in Group A; Egypt and Uruguay.

Russia World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Brugge), Andrei Lunyov (Zenit St. Petersburg).

Defenders: Mario Fernandes (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Granat (Rubin Kazan), Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Fyodor Kudryashov (Rubin Kazan), Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow), Andrei Semyonov (Akhmat Grozny), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit St. Petersburg).

Midfielders: Denis Cheryshev (Villarreal), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Yuri Gazinsky (FC Krasnodar), Alexander Golovin (CSKA Moscow), Daler Kuzyaev (Zenit St. Petersburg), Anton Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Alexander Samedov (Spartak Moscow), Alexander Yerokhin (Zenit St. Petersburg), Yuri Zhirkov (Zenit St. Petersburg), Roman Zobnin (Spartak Moscow).

Forwards: Artyom Dzyuba (Arsenal Tula), Alexei Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Fyodor Smolov (FC Krasnodar).

Saudi Arabia World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Mohammed Al Owais, Yasser Al Mosailem, Abdullah Al Mayouf

Defenders: Mansoor Al Harbi, Mohammed Al Breik, Yasser Al Shahrani, Motaz Hawsawi, Osama Hawsawi, Omar Hawsawi, Ali Al Bulaihi

Midfielders: Abdullah Al Khaibari, Abdulmalek Al Khaibri, Salman Al Faraj, Mohamed Kanno, Abdullah Otayf, Taiseer Al Jassim, Houssain Al Mogahwi, Hattan Bahebri, Salem Al Dawsari, Yahya Al Shehri, Fahad Al Muwallad

Forwards: Mohammad Al Sahlawi, Muhannad Assiri

Only two teams proceed from each group to the round of 16. Up to 32 teams are participating in this year’s World Cup.