Live report: Russia vs Saudi Arabia
Hosts Russia get the 2018 World Cup underway when they take on Saudi Arabia in Moscow this evening.
Russia’s players including Russia’s forward Aleksey Miranchuk (2nd R) warm up prior to the Russia 2018 World Cup Group A football match between Russia and Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 14, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Alexander NEMENOV / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS
Russia are not viewed as the strongest team to host football’s showpiece international tournament but Stanislav Cherchesov’s side will still be expected to make the most of home advantage and at least begin with a win in the competition’s curtain raiser in Moscow.
The hosts lack star players and will hope to rely on a collective team spirit and local support to inspire them, although CSKA Moscow keeper Igor Akinfeev, Villarreal defender Denis Cheryshev and Alan Dzagoev, who was joint top-scorer at Euro 2012 with three goals, do add experience and some talent to their ranks.
Saudi Arabia’s three standout performers are likely to be Al-Abed, Al-Muwall and Al-Shehri. Al-Abed managed five goals in qualification, while Al-Mulwall was the hero as he struck the crucial goal that sent them to Russia.
