FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 20 Dream start for hosts Russia opens World Cup 2018 with thumping 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia Reuters |

ussia launched the BETTER Cheryshev stars in World Cup in em- Rphatic style yester- opening game day when they outclassed a KNOW feeble Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the tournament’s opening match to end a nine-month winless run and give the Wolf Zabivaka host nation’s team and fans designed by the lift they desperately student Eka- needed. Substitute terina Bo- scored twice - the first after a charova won piece of skill that would have the right to graced a Lionel Messi high- be WC mascot. Russia’s Denis Cheryshev lights reel - and the second The symbol a superb shot in stoppage Russia’s Aleksandr Golovin speaks with Saudi Arabia’s Yasser Al-Shahrani and was chosen via AFP | Moscow time. Saudi Arabia coach Juan Antonio Pizzi online voting had head- enis Cheryshev said ed the World Cup’s first Dthere were “no words to after 12 minutes, Ar- about that after enduring a The home crowd, starved of nonchalantly flick the ball inch- express” how he felt after he tem Dzyuba got the third a wretched run of seven games any meaningful action for last es above two prone defenders struck twice for Russia as the minute after coming on as a without a win but they will be two years, were loving it as the desperately sliding in, before World Cup hosts thumped 70th-minute substitute and aware that the Asian qualifiers red shirts poured forward with lashing into the roof of the net. Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the open- Aleksandr Golovin completed look desperately ill-equipped to only some desperate defending Russia made it 3-0 in the 71st ing match of the tournament a memorable day by smashing trouble Egypt or group favour- preventing star striker Fyodor minute when Golovin chipped in in Moscow yesterday. in free kick with the last action ites Uruguay, who meet tomor- Smolov from adding a second. a cross for giant striker Dzyuba “There are no words to ex- of the game. row, and that there is still much had been at the to rise unchallenged to head in press what I’m feeling right The result equalled the to be done for the hosts to secure heart of things but had to go off from close range. now,” said Cheryshev, who best-ever in a World Cup open- progress to the knockout stage. after pulling a hamstring in the The crowd were then treated was recalled to the Russia ing game - Brazil beat Mexi - Russia looked lively from the 23rd minute. It proved some- to a fabulous finale as Cheryshev squad in March after an ab- co 5-0 in Geneva in 1954 - as start as they poured into the vast thing of a fortuitous situation – if cleverly steered home the fourth sence of more than two years. Russia took full advantage of a spaces on both flanks and it was not for him – as his replacement with the outside of his foot be- “I could never have Saudi team who’s defending fell no surprise when they opened Cheryshev doubled lead with a fore Golovin capped a great per- dreamed of anything like this. painfully short of World Cup the scoring after 12 minutes as mesmerizing touch of skill. sonal performance by curling his I felt very happy when I knew standard, while their attack was Gazinsky was totally unmarked Collecting a pass from Roman free kick beyond the wall to get I would be here in the squad non-existent. to nod home Golovin’s deep left- Zobnin on the left of the box the month-long Moscow party but I never dreamed of any- Russia’s fans will not care wing cross. he showed great composure to well and truly started. thing like this.”

GOAL SCORERS Female Saudi flag bearers miss opener

Iury Gazinsky (12’) Reuters | Riyadh match against Russia. But the organisers said they International Caps: 7 ix Saudi female teenagers could no longer make it. International Goals: 1 Sslated to serve as their coun- “Due to unforeseen logistical try’s flag bearers at the World circumstances, the Saudi flag Cup’s opening match in Mos- bearers’ delegation will unfor- cow yesterday were replaced tunately no longer be able to by Russians after their trip was attend the opening of the 2018 Denis Cheryshev (43’, 90’+1) cancelled due to “logistical cir- FIFA World Cup,” Coca-Cola Midfielder cumstances”, organisers said. said in a statement to Reuters. International Caps: 12 Named flag bearers as part of Omar Bennis, public affairs International Goals: 2 a programme run by Coca-Cola, director at Coca-Cola Middle the girls, aged 13 to 17, were sup- East, declined to disclose the posed to lead the Saudi national nature of the logistical issues. team onto the pitch at Moscow’s Supporters of team Saudi Arabia take part in a motorcycle race on the eve of the He said it was not related to ahead of their 2018 FIFA World Cup near the Bolshoi Theatre in central Moscow their gender. Artem Dzyuba (71’) Forward International Caps: 24 International Goals: 12 Flag-waving fans party as hosts win first match AFP | Moscow

Aleksandr Golovin (90’+4) he mood was buoyant and Midfielder Tpolitics was left on the International Caps: 20 touchline as thousands of Rus- We have the best International Goals: 3 sian and foreign fans crammed country in the into a Moscow fan zone to world, I knew watch yesterday’s World Cup we would win. opener, erupting in cheers as I can’t describe Russia crushed Saudi 5-0. how happy and Today’s match Flag-waving supporters from positive I feel all over the world chanted “Rus- sia!” as the host team opened right now their campaign in style in the YELENA KRASNYKH GROUP A: city’s Luzhniki stadium. A crowd of some 10,000 peo- and positive I feel right now,” ple, including many families said Yelena Krasnykh, a 21-year- Egypt vs Uruguay with young children, gathered old student. (3:00 PM) in a fanzone on a hill above the “We’re really very glad. We stadium with giant screens set didn’t expect this to be honest,” up to watch the game. said 34-year-old Veronika Krip- Russian fans react while watching the Russia 2018 World Cup Group A football Russian fans were less nu - olapova. match between Russia and Saudi Arabia in the fan zone near the main building GROUP B: GROUP B: merous than international ones, “Victory is a great feeling,” of the Moscow State University in Moscow but were ecstatic as their team said Pavel, a 42-year-old factory Morocco vs Iran pulled off a triumphant start to worker. American flavour to the fan ing the game. Portugal vs Spain the championship. “Our team is not that bad, it’s zone and exuberant supporters As Russia scored the final (6:00 PM) (9:00 PM) “We have the best country just things in Russia are unpre- from Peru, Mexico and Colom- goal, hundreds of Russian and in the world, I knew we would dictable,” he said. bia held competitive chant-offs, Peruvian fans danced together win. I can’t describe how happy There was a distinct South whilst cheering for Russia dur- and chanted “Go Russia!”