I'm going to leave you there for the day - thanks for joining us on day one of the World Cup. FIVE GOALS in one game - oh please let the World Cup carry on like that.

Check out the match report for Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia here.

Read about Robbie Williams doing the opening ceremony here.

Tomorrow is Egypt v Uruguay (read this piece on Luis Suarez), Morocco v Iran and Portugal v Spain. Join us then.</s>Russia has started the 2018 FIFA World Cup with a bang.

The host nation of this year’s tournament trounced Saudi Arabia 5-0 on Thursday in Moscow to rocket to the top of Group A. Denis Cheryshev scored two goals, and Iury Gazinsky, Artem Dzyuba and Aleksandr Golovin each added on, as Russia kicked off its World Cup adventure better than home fans could have imagined.

The world waited just 12 minutes for the first goal of Russia 2018. Gazinsky did the honors, heading home Golovin’s perfect cross.

Russia playmaker Alan Dzagoev limped off in the 24th minute with an apparent hamstring injury, but his substitute, Cheryshev, alleviated fears of a larger setback by delivering a show-stopping performance.

Cheryshev’s gave Russia a 2-0 lead in the 43rd minute on his first goal, during which he beat three defenders.

Dzyuba entered the game in the 70th minute and etched his name into World Cup history less than two minutes later.

Saudi Arabia already had submitted to Russia when Cheryshev and Golovin added the exclamation points to the scoreline and highlight reals.

History will remember Cheryshev’s 93rd minute strike as the first great goal of World Cup 2018.

Golovin’s free kick one minute later wasn’t half-bad either.

The World Cup hasn’t produced such a lopsided opening game in 84 years.

Next up

 Russia will play Egypt on Tuesday, and Saudi Arabia will face Uruguay on Wednesday in their respective second games in Group A.</s>Saudi Arabia's sports boss Turki al-Sheikh has already caused one World Cup storm with his $3.5million capture of Egypt's top sportscaster.

Now the outspoken sports minister is hoping his unfancied nation can cause another upset by beating host nation Russia in the opening game on Thursday.

Al-Sheikh interrupted Wednesday's training session at the Luzhniki Stadium to give a pep talk to head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi and his players.

The game is seen a must-win both nations if they are to have any realistic chances of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Russia are ranked 70th in the world and Saudi Arabia just above them in 64th, with Uruguay and Egypt the other two teams in Group A.

The meeting between Saudi Arabia and Egypt will have added spice as Egyptians are livid at the country's star TV host Amr Adib for transferring to a Saudi network.

Al-Sheikh added fuel to the fire with a video clip of him boasting about hiring Adib for the Saudi MBC Network.

'This is the most expensive broadcaster in the Middle East, an Arab Larry King,' the minister jokes in the clip.

Adib will reportedly earn $3m a year plus another $500,000 for his share of advertising revenues.</s>Russian winger Denis Cheryshev has got this summer’s World Cup hosts off to a dream start with a neat goal to make it 2-0 in their opening game against Saudi Arabia.

The Villarreal star took advantage of some shockingly poor Saudi defending, but still kept his cool to finish with aplomb after weaving his way through.

MORE: Video: Russia go 1-0 up through controversial Yuri Gazinsky goal vs Saudi Arabia

Russia will not be among the favourites for this year’s competition but the excitement among their fans will be at fever pitch level now after this fine start.

This second goal came just before half time as Russia look sure to kick things off with a win this afternoon…</s>MOSCOW (AP) — Inspired by the home crowd in the opening match of the World Cup, Russia ended a 16-year wait for victory.

Substitute Denis Cheryshev scored two goals Thursday to lead the host nation over Saudi Arabia 5-0 in Group A with President Vladimir Putin watching from the stands alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

It was Russia's first World Cup win since 2002 and ended a seven-game winless run overall — the national team's longest winless streak in 20 years.

Yuri Gazinsky initially put Russia ahead with a header from Alexander Golovin's cross when the Saudis failed to clear a corner in the 12th minute. Gazinsky charged forward to meet the ball as Saudi player Taisir Al-Jassam stumbled, leaving him a simple finish.

Putin and Infantino smiled and shrugged as they sat next to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the VIP box. Putin then reached over to shake the prince's hand.

Cheryshev chipped the ball over two Saudi defenders in the 43rd minute and shot over goalkeeper Abdullah Al Muaiouf's right side. He later chipped the ball in for Russia's fourth goal in stoppage time.

After Cheryshev's first goal, Artyom Dzyuba made an instant impact off the bench to make it 3-0 in the 71st with a header from Golovin's cross. Golovin added the fifth from a free kick.

Following a lavish opening ceremony featuring British singer Robbie Williams, Putin welcomed visiting fans and promised Russia would be a "hospitable and friendly" host.

In a World Cup first, the video assistant referee system was available for the match between the tournament's lowest-ranked teams, though it wasn't used.

The Saudis, who last won a match at the World Cup in 1994, failed to get a single shot on target.

The win for Russia is a big boost to its hopes of advancing, but it will still face a tough test against Egypt on June 19 and Uruguay six days later.

But with the five goals against the Saudis, a draw could be enough against either of its two remaining opponents.

Saudi Arabia's route to the knockout round is much more difficult. The Saudis will face Uruguay on June 20 and then Egypt on June 25. Egypt and Uruguay play Friday in Yekaterinburg.

Russia's players were significantly taller and heavier than the Saudis, a help when challenging for the ball and when the penalty area was crowded.

That had an effect on Gazinsky's goal, which came after the Saudis struggled to clear a Russian corner, and the header from the tall and stocky Dzyuba.

One concern for Russia, however, is that creative midfielder Alan Dzagoev appears to have injured a hamstring in the first half.

Saudi Arabia sent some players to the Spanish league for experience this season but they didn't get much playing time while there.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Keep track of all the action from the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow as hosts Russia kick off Group A with Saudi Arabia.</s>Russia are hoping to be the 22nd hosts to avoid a defeat in their opening World Cup game when they face Saudi Arabia. (The 2002 World Cup saw Korea and Japan, emerge as the first co-hosts of a single tournament, making the host nations 21 in 20 editions). No hosts have ever lost their opening World Cup game.

Russia and Saudi Arabia have faced off once. The Asians won the bragging rights when they defeated, the hosts of the 2018 World Cup 4-2 in an international friendly in October 1993.

Russia qualified as hosts, which, considering their travails on the pitch was probably the only they were making this edition of the tournament and Saudi Arabia on the other hand booked a place in Russia after placing second in group B of the Asia qualifiers.

Russia played under the name USSR from 1930 to 1990, during the period they qualified for eight FIFA World Cups and placed fourth in the 1966 tournament which is their best finish in the Mundial’s history. Russia have participated in three World Cups, since USSR collapsed in 1990, making it a total of 11 appearances.

They last played in the World Cup in 2002

While Saudi Arabia have participated in the Mundial on four occasions. Their best finish came in 1994 when they reached the round of 16 in their maiden World Cup appearance.

READ MORE: Watch how Black Starlets Physiotherapist was bribed to select injured player for World Cup

The Asians made their last appearance in 2006.

Hosts Russia are 70th, whereas Saudi Arabia are 67th in the latest FIFA ranking.

Russia are winless in their last five games at the World Cup (D2, L3). Their only two victories at the World Cup as an independent nation were against African teams (6-1 versus Cameroon in 1994 and 2-0 against Tunisia in 2002).

While, Saudi Arabia are winless in their last 10 games at the World Cup, losing eight of them, since beating Belgium 1-0 in 1994.

Mohammed Al-Sahlawi is the talisman of the Saudi Arabia team, scoring 16 goals in qualifying - the joint-most of any player, although eight of those came in two games against Timor-Leste.

Whereas, Fedor Smolov who briefly turned out for Feyenoord in 2011, has been prolific since moving to the Krasnodar Stadium in 2015, where he has hit 52 goals in 73 league games.

He has amassed 12 goals in 31 appearances for the national team is the player the Russian will be looking up to.</s>Some are calling it El Gasico.

Russia and Saudi Arabia meet in the first match of the 2018 World Cup on Thursday, kicking off a month of high-level international football. Odds forecast a win for Russia, but the lack of quality on both teams presents a certain air of unpredictability for a match that is historically always won by the hosts.

Russia might start a 38-year old at center back. They had a pair of defenders retire, and had another pair go down with knee injuries before the tournament. Their best offensive player, Aleksandr Kokorin, is also out with a knee injury. They will instead rely on Fyodor Smolov to provide the spark up top, and rely on a handful of high-motor midfielders to keep themselves alive.

Injuries aside, Russia just hasn’t been very good in international play. They haven’t won a match since October, a 4-2 win over South Korea that was aided by a pair of own goals.

The only sure thing in the lineup will be Igor Akinfeev. The captain, who has spent his entire club career at CSKA Moscow, will be in charge of organizing an inexperienced back line on the fly.

Russia has been playing with three center backs since Stanislav Cherchesov, but it’s unknown who will start in the opener. ESPN predicts a 5-3-2 for Russia, with Smolov alone up top.

For Saudi Arabia, it’s a matter of chemistry and match fitness. Manager Juan Antonio Pizzi was only hired in November, after failing to reach the World Cup with Chile. 20 of 23 players are from the Saudi Premier League, and most are from the top two teams in the league. That means a ton of untested talent, with most of the roster seeing their first-ever World Cup.

And then there’s the transfers. In an effort to get their players some high-level experience, Saudi officials struck a deal with La Liga to send a handful of players to Spain on loan. The plan backfired, as the players stayed on the bench and are now lacking proper fitness heading into the World Cup.

Saudi Arabia will try to use their offensive playmakers to frustrate the inexperienced Russian defenders. Yahya Al Shehri is the playmaker, and he’ll look to feed balls into Mohamed al-Sahlawi, who led all players globally with 17 goals in qualifying. With that in mind, expect to see something like a 4-2-3-1 from Saudi Arabia.</s>Vladimir Putin craves sporting glory, and he got another taste of it in the opening match of the World Cup.

Russia ended a 16-year wait for victory in the tournament by routing Saudi Arabia 5-0 Thursday in Group A, with the Russian president watching from the VIP box alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the Saudi crown prince.

It was the host nation's first World Cup win since 2002, and it raises the hope that Russia can get past the group stage for the first time since the Soviet era.

Yuri Gazinsky initially put Russia ahead with a header from Alexander Golovin's cross when the Saudis failed to clear a corner in the 12th minute. Gazinsky charged forward to meet the ball as Saudi player Taisir Al-Jassam stumbled, leaving a simple finish.

Putin and Infantino smiled and shrugged as they sat next to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Putin then reached over to shake the prince's hand.

Substitute Denis Cheryshev soon scored the first of his two goals. He chipped the ball over two Saudi defenders in the 43rd minute and shot over goalkeeper Abdullah Al Muaiouf's right side to make it 2-0. He later chipped the ball in for Russia's fourth goal in stoppage time.

"I have never done anything like this," Cheryshev said. "I already felt very happy when I knew I could come here with my squad, but I never, ever dreamed of something like this."

After Cheryshev's first goal, Artyom Dzyuba made an instant impact off the bench to make it 3-0 in the 71st with a header from Golovin's cross. Golovin added the fifth from a free kick.

Following a lavish opening ceremony featuring British singer Robbie Williams, Putin welcomed visiting fans and promised Russia would be a "hospitable and friendly" host.

Putin has made no secret about his desire for success in international sports, especially at the Olympics. But high points for Russian athletes have been rare since the country's image was tarnished by doping, with numerous Olympic medals stripped for drug use.

In a World Cup first, the video assistant referee system was available for the match between the tournament's lowest-ranked teams, though it wasn't used for an official review.

The Saudis, who last won a match at the World Cup in 1994, failed to get a single shot on target.

The win for Russia is a big boost to its hopes of advancing, but it will still face a tough test against Egypt on June 19 and Uruguay six days later.

With the five goals against the Saudis, a draw could be enough against either of its two remaining opponents.

Saudi Arabia's route to the knockout round is much more difficult. The Saudis will face Uruguay on June 20 and then Egypt on June 25. Egypt and Uruguay play Friday in Yekaterinburg.

Russia's players were significantly taller and heavier than the Saudis, a help when challenging for the ball and when the penalty area was crowded.

That had an effect on Gazinsky's goal, which came after the Saudis struggled to clear a Russian corner, and the header from the tall and stocky Dzyuba.

One concern for Russia is that creative midfielder Alan Dzagoev picked up a suspected hamstring injury, but that was what allowed Cheryshev to come off the bench and change the game.

Russia's bench players had their day of glory.

Dzyuba had played only once for Russia since 2016, while Cheryshev and Gazinsky made two appearances in that time.

Raised in Spain, where his father Dmitry taught at Real Madrid's youth academy, Cheryshev showed his technical skills by beating the two Saudi defenders before his first goal.

Dzyuba spent half the season on loan after reported disputes with Zenit St. Petersburg management, but forced his way back into the Russia team with strong play.

Saudi coach Juan Antonio Pizzi: "We were not doing what we wanted to do. The opposing team did not have to make a huge effort to win."

Golovin: "For us, each game is like the last."

It was Russia's third win from 10 World Cup matches since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Cheryshev hadn't scored for Russia in his 11 previous appearances. Saudi Arabia has now lost a game by four or more goals at each of its last four World Cup visits, including an 8-0 rout at the hands of Germany in 2002.</s>Russia launched the World Cup in emphatic style when they outclassed a feeble Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the tournament's opening match to end a nine-month winless run and give the host nation's team and fans the lift they desperately needed.

Photo: AFP

Substitute Denis Cheryshev scored twice - the first after a piece of skill that would have graced a Lionel Messi highlights reel - and the second a superb shot in stoppage time.

Yury Gazinsky had headed the World Cup's first goal after 12 minutes, Artem Dzyuba got the third a minute after coming on as a 70th-minute substitute and Aleksandr Golovin completed a memorable day by smashing in free kick with the last action of the game.

The result equalled the best-ever in a World Cup opening game - Brazil beat Mexico 5-0 in Geneva in 1954 - as Russia took full advantage of a Saudi team who's defending fell painfully short of World Cup standard, while their attack was non-existent.

Russia's fans will not care about that after enduring a wretched run of seven games without a win but they will be aware that the Asian qualifiers look desperately ill-equipped to trouble Egypt or group favourites Uruguay, who meet tomorrow, and that there is still much to be done for the hosts to secure progress to the knockout stage.

Russia looked lively from the start as they poured into the vast spaces on both flanks and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring after 12 minutes as Gazinsky was totally unmarked to nod home Golovin's deep left-wing cross.

The home crowd, starved of any meaningful action for the last two years, were loving it as the red shirts poured forward with only some desperate defending preventing star striker Fyodor Smolov from adding a second.

Alan Dzagoev had been at the heart of things but had to go off after pulling a hamstring in the 23rd minute. It proved something of a fortuitous situation - if not for him - as his replacement Cheryshev doubled the lead with a mesmerizing touch of skill.

Collecting a pass from Roman Zobnin on the left of the box he showed great composure to nonchalantly flick the ball inches above two prone defenders desperately sliding in, before lashing into the roof of the net.

Russia made it 3-0 in the 71st minute when Golovin chipped in a cross for giant striker Dzyuba to rise unchallenged to head in from close range.

The crowd were then treated to a fabulous finale as Cheryshev cleverly steered home the fourth with the outside of his foot before Golovin capped a great personal performance by curling his free kick beyond the wall to get the month-long Moscow party well and truly started.

- Reuters
Hosts Russia beat Saudi Arabia 5–0 in the opening match, with two goals by Denis Cheryshev.