Aaaaaaarrrrggghhhh! It is upon us! Happy holidays, football mubarak, chag sameakh and merry World Cup! After four long, lonesome years, now we are whole again. So what of Russia v Saudi Arabia? Well, he said, answering his own question, Russia are not very good. They haven't won in seven games and weren't great before that, so face a struggle to get out of this group, which has neither greatness nor drek. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, have run both Germany and Italy close recently, and won't role over today. But the reality is that Russians and Saudis aside, no one really cares because what's to care about? The World Cup is here!

World Cup / Group Stage

Luzhniki Stadium / 14.06.2018

Russia

Completed

Saudi Arabia

Y. Gazinsky(12')
D. Cheryshev(43', 90+1')
A. Dzyuba(71')
A. Golovin(90+4')

Live

Live Updates

ByTom Adams

Updated 14/06/2018 at 16:59 GMT

All
Highlights

17:58

Anyway, that's all from us for today - but join us tomorrow, when we'll have just the three games for you. Oooh yeah - the World cup is here!

17:57

What a performance by the hosts! Saudi were rotten, it's true, but Russia were all over them in the first 20 minutes and solid enough thereafter. If they can just beat Egypt next week, they'll be into the knockouts!

17:56

Full-time: Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia

90+4'

GREAT GOAL! Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia (Golovin) Though he's on the far left of the box, Golovin decides that the free-kick is nevertheleess one for a right-footer, curling around and over the wall with precision. I reckon Russia might win this one.

90+3'

Taiseer is booked for fouling Golovin - free-kick Russia, 20 yards out...

90+1

WHAT A GOAL! Russia 4-0 Saudi Arabia (Cheryshev) A long hump from Zhirkov picks out Dzyuba, from an offside position, nods down for Cheryshev to collect, breaking towards the box, left of centre. And what a finish he delivers, bent into the far top corner with the outside of his right foot like it's nothing (it is not nothing). Brilliant!

90'

There shall be three added minutes.

88'

Saudi again incur down the right, and Salem crosses low. Gazinski has time and space to get rid, but makes a mess of it and is robbed by Hatan, but Kutepov comes over to remedy the situation.

86'

Russia win a free-kick down the left and Zhirkov curls in a dangerous ball, Kutepov can't reach. Somehow, Saudi still contrive to concede a corner, but it comes to nothing.

84'

The Saudi manager must wish he could make 11 changes, but has to content himself with three and this is his last: off goes Alsahlawi, and on comes Muhannad.

82'

Saudi get the ball down the right and Salem cuts inside on the line, but instead of crossing he keeps going until he's certain that he can ram the ball into someone's shins and call it a shot. Well played old mate, well played.

81'

80'

Saudi Arabia aren't the worst team I've seen this season, but they're in the bottom one.

78'

Saudi are going to play against Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani in a few days. Ah.

77'

Golovin, who's been the best player today, has apparently been linked with Manchester United. Like more or less everyone else, then.

74'

Salem takes the ball inside from out on the left and drives a rasper that's not at all far wide of the far post. Akinfeev wasn't getting that, but luckily for him he didn't need to.

73'

This'll sort it: Saudi make another change, Hatan replacing Yahia.

71'

GOAL! Russia 3-0 Saudi Arabia (Dzuyba) Instant impact! Nice interplay down the right between Fernandes and Zobanin allowed Golovin to cross, and he picked out the new kid in the middle as the Saudi defence disintegrated, but even so, the backleaning header, across the keeper, was very nicely administered.

70'

Another change for Russia: Dzyuba, all 6"5 of him, replaces Smolov. Apparently he doesn't mind a row, so hopefully we'll see something that no one wants to see.

68'

Golovin wriggles some space, running at Omar who can't decide which way to face. Just inside the box, right of centre, he skids a low, tame shot towards the far corner which abdullah spills in pathetic fashion, but then recovers well to shove the loose ball away from Smolov.

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