SPORT Friday 15 June 2018 PAGEE | 1919 PAGEPAGE | 24 France seek thumpingmping PortuPortugal overlooked victory over Australiatralia ffacingacing Spain in to quash doubtsoubts ttoday’soday showdown Russia’s Denis Cheryshev (second, right) scores their second goal against Saudi Arabia during the opening match of the FIFA 2018 World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia yesterday. RUSSIA SAUDI ARABIA 5 0 Gazinskii - 12' Cheryshev - 43' Dzyuba - 71' Cheryshev - 90'+1' Golovin - 90'+4' Russia crush Saudi Arabia in opener AFP the country since the 1980 Moscow TODAY'S FIXTURES Summer Olympics. MOSCOW: Russia kicked off their Brazil and their superstar GROUP A World Cup in style yesterday, Neymar are seeking a sixth global At Ekaterinburg Arena thumping Saudi Arabia 5-0 in front crown while Germany, who won Russia’s in Ekaterinburg EGYPT vs URUGUAY of an ecstatic crowd in Moscow their fourth World Cup in Brazil four forward KICKOFF AT 3.00PM after President Vladimir Putin offi- years ago, will be determined to Artem Dzyuba cially opened the tournament. draw level with the Brazilians. (second, left) GROUP B Putin told the 80,000-strong France boast possibly the most celebrates At Saint Petersburg Stadium crowd at the Luzhniki Stadium talented squad while Lionel Messi with his in St. Petersburg before the match kicked off: “I con- is desperate to make amends for team-mates MOROCCO vs IRAN gratulate all of you at the start of Argentina’s defeat in the 2014 final. after scoring KICKOFF AT 6.00PM the most important championship The preparations of 2010 the third in the world.” winners Spain are in tatters after goal against GROUP B “Love for football unites the coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked Saudi Arabia At Fisht Stadium in Sochi PORTUGAL vs SPAIN entire world in one team, regardless just two days before their opening yesterday. of people’s language or ideology,” game today against Portugal. He KICKOFF AT 9.00PM Putin said to thunderous cheers. had angered his federation by Then, to the delight of the home taking the job of Real Madrid fans, Iury Gazinsky headed Russia manager. Russia burst with joy after in front in the 12th minute after a Neymar, the world’s most cross from Aleksandr Golovin. Sub- expensive player, has recovered stitute Denis Cheryshev rifled from a broken bone in his foot in perfect start to World Cup home a second shortly before time. half-time. Egypt’s coach said prolific Another substitute, Artem striker Mohamed Salah is “almost REUTERS Dzyuba, made it 3-0 with about 20 100 percent” to play in their “We just didn’t expect it,” watching the game from a box minutes remaining, putting the opening match against Uruguay a Russia supporter dressed in in the stands with his arms game out of Saudi Arabia’s reach. today after he had intensive MOSCOW: Russian fans and a helmet and medieval garb raised in surprise. Cheryshev scored a stunning treatment on the shoulder injury he politicians joined in an told state TV. The public jubilation was goal with the outside of his left foot suffered playing for Liverpool outpouring of jubilation “Thank you guys, thank welcome for the Russian gov- in time added on and Golovin sealed against Real Madrid in the Cham- yesterday as the host nation you to the coach and thanks to ernment which on Thursday the rout with a goal direct from a pions League final. unexpectedly routed Saudi (President Vladimir) Putin for announced it would raise the free-kick. The money lavished on the Arabia 5-0 in the opening this celebration! It’s great.” retirement age for men and Victory for Russia, ranked a tournament will boost Putin’s match of the World Cup. “This today was the women, an unpopular decision lowly 70th in the world - three already sky-high prestige at home State television showed national team that we all want it has shied away from taking places below Saudi Arabia - was by giving many of the 11 host cities throngs of Russians outside to see,” Sports Minister Pavel for years, fearing popular vital for the home nation’s hopes of their first facelifts in generations. Moscow’s main stadium Kolobkov was quoted as saying discontent. progressing, with tougher games The tournament also offers cheering with flags but also by TASS news agency. “This is really cool,” against Egypt and Uruguay to come. Putin a chance to project Russia as stunned by the victory as the “Putin is also in shock,” the Russian opposition politician Russia is spending more than a global player that is accepted and hosts are the lowest FIFA TV Rain channel wrote on Alexei Navalny, who was $13bn on hosting football’s show- respected even while being at odds ranked team in the social media, posting a photo- released from jail earlier in the piece, the most important event in with the United States. tournament. graph of the Russian President day, wrote on social media. 18 SPORT FRIDAY 15 JUNE 2018 Reporter who exposed Iranian team players gather during a training Russia doping ‘won’t session at the Saint Petersburg Stadium, be at the World Cup’ yesterday. AFP broadcaster had held talks with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas BERLIN: German journalist over the security issue and the Hajo Seppelt, whose investi- ministry clearly indicated that gative reporting exposed it shared the intelligence Russia’s alleged state-spon- agencies’ concerns. sored doping, will not travel to Russia’s powerful Investi- the football World Cup tour- gative Committee has said it nament out of security intended to question Seppelt on concerns, he said yesterday. his arrival because he was a key World Cup host Russia had witness in its own investigation initially refused to issue Seppelt into the doping scandal. a visa, naming him persona non Seppelt’s documentaries on grata, but later relented after doping among Russian athletes massive international pressure, sparked a storm and ended up with FIFA stressing the impor- with Russia being banned from tance of media freedom to the 2018 Winter Olympics. President Vladimir Putin’s His TV reports concluded government. that Russia’s doping pro- But Germany’s security gramme was being overseen by agencies have since evaluated the state’s security service and the situation and found it was that orders for athletes to cheat risky for the journalist to travel on a such a scale could only to Russia for the tournament, have come from Putin himself said ARD in a statement. -- charges which have been “It is an alarming sign vehemently denied by Russia. Pre-World Cup chaos because it means that sports “Im’ not disappointed, I’m journalism in Russia carries disillusioned,” said the risks and serious conse- 55-year-old journalist of quences,” Seppelt said in an missing the June 14 to July 15 interview. tournament. motivates Iran: Coach “If reporting is hindered in “I can understand that this manner, that’s worrisome,” ARD’s highest priority is the AFP he added. safety of its employees,” he role of underdogs. We admit Representatives from the added. Iran’s coach that the favourites are SAINT PETERSBURG: Carlos Queiroz Morocco, Spain and Portugal Cancelled friendlies, world- due to history, World Cup class opposition and even a preparation, maturity and Mourinho confident shortage of boots will not dent players in the best teams in Iran’s World Cup dreams, says Europe,” he added. coach Carlos Queiroz, whose “We concede that favour- team England will side have become accustomed itism, but we don’t tolerate to upsetting the odds. that we are not capable to win. Iran open their fifth World Nobody can undermine our impress in Russia Cup campaign today against expectations and hopes. Morocco in what Queiroz “We are here to compete REUTERS “They have good squads but described as a “must-win” with the favourites and we good squads don’t always make match in Saint Petersburg with hope the gods of football LONDON: Manchester United good teams... (but) I don’t think the might of Spain and Por- speak higher and they make manager Jose Mourinho the underdogs will make a big tugal to come in Group B. decisions.” (pictured) has backed England surprise,” he added. Queiroz’s men romped Despite bowing out at the to shine at the World Cup due “In the end, the top teams group stage four years ago, to the depth of experience. in South America and Europe through Asian qualifying source of inspiration for our Iran returned home with “Theyyggp have a good group of are the ones that will be without tasting defeat in 18 motivations to be pride, having held Nigeria 0-0 young butbut experiencedexperienced players,”players,” fightingf i g h ting games. strengthened during the and come within seconds of Mourinhonho told BritishBritish media.media. forfor the We are not ever But their preparations for games,” said Queiroz. also taking a point off “Alll ofof themthem playplay in thethe title.”title.” using apologies Russia were disrupted as The former Real Madrid Argentina until a last-minute most competitiveompetitive compe-compe- warm-up friendlies against coach swerved questions on moment of magic from Lionel tition in tthehe worworld,ld, tthehe or justifications, Greece and then Kosovo were whether the sensational Messi undid a defensive mas- Premierer League,League, allall ofof themthem we are using the cancelled. sacking of Madrid-bound terclass from Queiroz. playingg forfor thethe bestbest teams difficulties as a Earlier this week, Nike Julen Lopetegui as Spain boss “No matter what happens with experiencexperience of pplayinglaying iinn announced it had stopped two days before their opening on the pitch I want my players the Championsampions League,League, which source of inspiration supplying boots to the Iranian game against Portugal raised to leave the pitch with their is a highigh level of football, for our motivations team due to US sanctions his expectations of progress to head up,” said Queiroz.