Host Russia with a dream start at the FIFA World Cup

Perfect start for World Cup hosts Russia

Hosting team Russia has achieved the highest victory in a World Cup opening game. In a one-sided game, the "Sbornaja" prevailed in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow against Saudi Arabia with 5: 0 (2: 0). Juri Gasinski (12th), Joker "Denis" Tscheryschew (43./90.+1) and Artem Jajuba (71.) as well as Alexander Golowin (90. + 4) brought their first success since the 2-0 win over Tunisia in 2002.

Still, no hosts have lost their opening game. The Saudis, on the other hand, have been waiting for a victory on the big stage since 1994.

Under the eyes of President Vladimir Putin, the team of coach Stanislaw Tchertschessow held the enormous pressure in front of almost 80,000 spectators in the sold-out Olympic Stadium. The last seven games before the World Cup were without a win for the national team. "We were in good shape at the right time," said coach Tschertschessow after the game. "The 5-0 is perhaps a bit too high." The previously weakly estimated Russian team can dream about the knockout rounds after the successful start in Group A.

Before the game, pop star Robbie Williams had presented four of his hits at the brief opening ceremony in a red suit with glittering leopard print. President Putin then greeted fans from all over the world with the words: "We are an open, hospitable country where our guests will find many friends, we are all united in our love of football, there are no differences in language and culture in faith, that's the power of football. "