What we learned on day one of the Russia 2018 World Cup
The big question posed by Russias 5-0 spanking of Saudi Arabia was: had the hosts pre-World Cup problems been exaggerated or are the Saudis just terrible?
Russia entered the tournament as its lowest ranked team, with their ageing squad helmed by under-fire coach Stanislav Cherchesov tipped to struggle to get out of Group A, yet they recorded the biggest win by a host nation in an opening fixture since 1934.
We wont know until they face Uruguay and Egypt, who meet today in a match that has taken on greater significance.
Golovin and Cheryshev steal the show
Stars are made and lucrative transfers conceived at major tournaments, and Aleksandr Golovin and Denis Cheryshev made early bids to be the faces of Russia 2018 against Saudi Arabia.
An early injury to Alan Dzagoev thrust Golovin into a more central role and the CSKA Moscow playmaker flourished, capping an influential performance with a fine free-kick.
Cheryshev's second goal – Russia's fourth – was the pick of the bunch (Source: Getty)
The pick of the strikes, however, was Cheryshevs second: an outside-of-the-left-boot effort that sailed over unfortunate Saudi goalkeeper Abdullah Al Muaiouf and dipped under the crossbar.
Greying Robbie 'shines' in budget ceremony
Perhaps it was the cost of employing 5,000 security staff to police the first game, but there was a distinctly low-budget feel to the World Cup opening ceremony.
Williams sang three songs in a low-key curtain-raiser (Source: Getty)
Robbie Williams was lured out of the celebrity wilderness to don a red leopard-print suit and croon three songs while an array of backing dancers sported similarly subtle garb, wearing footballs as hats and skirts just in case spectators had forgotten the occasion.
“And do they know/The places where we go/When were grey and old,” Robbie sang in Angels. If they didnt, they do now.
Read more: How we grew to like England again under Gareth Southgat
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